stringery

G dorian

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

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position4 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. GRW
  2. A2H
  3. B♭♭3W
  4. C4W
  5. D5W
  6. E6H
  7. F♭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 neckG dorian

12345GCEA571012R2♭3456♭7R456♭7R2♭346♭7R2♭34562♭3456♭7R2
12345GCEA571012R2♭3456♭7R456♭7R2♭346♭7R2♭34562♭3456♭7R2

Position 4 is outlined, frets 7 to 10. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The G dorian key

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

  1. Gmi
  2. Amii
  3. B♭III
  4. CIV
  5. Dmv
  6. Edimvi°
  7. FVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • F major

    Same notes, but home is F: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • D minor

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

  • C mixolydian

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

  • B♭ lydian

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

  • A phrygian

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