D E F G A B C 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8 positions Position 1 at frets 10-15
The Dorian mode is a minor scale with a major 6th. That one raised note makes it brighter than the natural minor: funk, jazz, Latin rock and modal jams use it over minor chords. On the guitar it falls into 8 positions, including an open position near the nut. Position 1 starts on the root, frets 10-15. The root D is at fret 10 on the low E string and fret 5 on the A string.
e|-----------------------------0-1-3-| B|-----------------------0-1-3-------| G|-------------------0-2-------------| D|-------------0-2-3-----------------| A|-------0-2-3-----------------------| E|-0-1-3-----------------------------|
e|----------------------------------------------12-13-15-| B|-------------------------------------12-13-15----------| G|----------------------------10-12-14-------------------| D|-------------------10-12-14----------------------------| A|----------10-12-14-------------------------------------| E|-10-12-13----------------------------------------------|
e|----------------------------------------------13-15-17-| B|-------------------------------------13-15-17----------| G|----------------------------12-14-16-------------------| D|-------------------12-14-15----------------------------| A|----------12-14-15-------------------------------------| E|-12-13-15----------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------3-5-7-| B|-------------------------3-5-6-------| G|-------------------2-4-5-------------| D|-------------2-3-5-------------------| A|-------2-3-5-------------------------| E|-1-3-5-------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------5-7-8-| B|-------------------------5-6-8-------| G|-------------------4-5-7-------------| D|-------------3-5-7-------------------| A|-------3-5-7-------------------------| E|-3-5-7-------------------------------|
e|--------------------------------7-8-10-| B|-------------------------6-8-10--------| G|-------------------5-7-9---------------| D|-------------5-7-9---------------------| A|-------5-7-8---------------------------| E|-5-7-8---------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------8-10-12-| B|-----------------------------8-10-12---------| G|----------------------7-9-10-----------------| D|---------------7-9-10------------------------| A|--------7-8-10-------------------------------| E|-7-8-10--------------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------------10-12-13-| B|---------------------------------10-12-13----------| G|-------------------------9-10-12-------------------| D|-----------------9-10-12---------------------------| A|---------8-10-12-----------------------------------| E|-8-10-12-------------------------------------------|
Strings from the low E (left) to the high E (right), frets numbered on the left. Magenta dots are the root, D. The tab under each diagram plays the position from its lowest note to its highest; play it back down the same way.
The positions above are slices of this map. They overlap: the highest notes of one are the lowest notes of the next, so once you know two neighbours you can slide from one to the other along a string.
7 notes: D E F G A B C. In whole (W) and half (H) steps: W H W W W H W. The half steps are where the scale gets its colour.
| Note | Degree | Interval from the root | Half steps | Fret on the low E string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root | 0 | 10 |
| E | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 | 0 |
| F | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 | 1 |
| G | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 | 3 |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 | 5 |
| B | 6 | Major 6th | 9 | 7 |
| C | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 | 8 |
Vamp between the minor chord on the root and the major chord a fourth above it, and let the major 6th sing. Compare with the natural minor positions: only one note per octave moves.
Same notes, another root: C major. The shapes on the neck are the same; only the note you start and end on changes.
The natural minor has a minor 6th; Dorian raises it to a major 6th. Compare the two: D natural minor.
Set the tempo low, play each position up and down with the button above, then try it yourself at the same speed. Raise the tempo by 4 BPM only when it is clean.
Going up: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, then D an octave higher. Its formula is 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7.
Start with position 1, frets 10-15: the root D is under your finger 1 on the low E string. Play three notes on each string, from the low E to the high E, then back down. The diagrams and tabs on this page show all 8 positions.
On the low E string at fret 10, on the A string at fret 5. Those two root notes anchor most scale positions and barre chords.
The natural minor has a minor 6th; Dorian raises it to a major 6th.
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