stringery

F dorian

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

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position3 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. FRW
  2. G2H
  3. A♭♭3W
  4. B♭4W
  5. C5W
  6. D6H
  7. E♭♭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 neckF dorian

12345GCEA5710122♭3456♭7R256♭7R2♭345R2♭3456♭7456♭7R2♭3
12345GCEA5710122♭3456♭7R256♭7R2♭345R2♭3456♭7456♭7R2♭3

Position 3 is outlined, frets 5 to 8. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The F dorian key

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

  1. Fmi
  2. Gmii
  3. A♭III
  4. B♭IV
  5. Cmv
  6. Ddimvi°
  7. E♭VII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • E♭ major

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

  • C minor

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

  • B♭ mixolydian

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

  • A♭ lydian

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

  • G phrygian

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