stringery

C dorian

Minor with a brighter 6th: funk, jazz and Santana. Minor 7 family

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position1 of 5

571012

Square: the root. In colour: the 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. CRW
  2. D2H
  3. E♭♭3W
  4. F4W
  5. G5W
  6. A6H
  7. B♭♭7W

It is natural minor with the 6th raised one fret, which takes the sadness out and leaves the cool.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckC dorian

12345GCEA57101256♭7R2♭345R2♭3456♭7R456♭7R2♭36♭7R2♭3456
12345GCEA57101256♭7R2♭345R2♭3456♭7R456♭7R2♭36♭7R2♭3456

Position 1 is outlined, frets 0 to 3. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The C dorian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. Cmi
  2. Dmii
  3. E♭III
  4. FIV
  5. Gmv
  6. Adimvi°
  7. B♭VII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • B♭ major

    Same notes, but home is B♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • G minor

    Same notes, but home is G: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • F mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is F: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • E♭ lydian

    Same notes, but home is E♭: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • D phrygian

    Same notes, but home is D: dark, spanish, menacing.