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Scales

C Dorian mode

The C Dorian mode notes: C – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭. Minor with a major 6th. Jazzier and brighter than natural minor; think funk, Latin and modal jazz.

Notes and steps

C1D2E♭♭3F4G5A6B♭♭7

Steps: W – H – W – W – W – H – W · W = whole step, H = half step

C Dorian mode on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

C Dorian mode on the guitar fretboardFGAB♭CDE♭AB♭CDE♭FGADE♭FGAB♭CDGAB♭CDE♭FGCDE♭FGAB♭FGAB♭CDE♭357912

C Dorian mode on piano

C Dorian mode on the piano keyboardCDFGACDFGAE♭B♭E♭B♭

Chords in this scale

iCmCm7iiDmDm7IIIE♭E♭maj7IVFF7vGmGm7♯vi°AdimAm7b5VIIB♭B♭maj7

Other scales from C

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C Dorian mode?

C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭. Step formula: W–H–W–W–W–H–W (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (C). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash