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Dorian scale
How to play the dorian scale
Dorian is the major scale started on its 2nd note. Play every white key from D up to the next D and you have D dorian.
To play it from any other note, keep the formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7. Compared with the major scale, each ♭ is one key lower and each ♯ one key higher.
Practice it slowly with each hand, then hold the bottom note in the left hand while the right hand plays the scale: that drone is the quickest way to hear the character of a mode.
Dorian scale in all 12 keys
| Key | Notes |
|---|---|
| C dorian | C D E♭ F G A B♭ C |
| D♭ dorian | D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ |
| D dorian | D E F G A B C D |
| E♭ dorian | E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ |
| E dorian | E F♯ G A B C♯ D E |
| F dorian | F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F |
| F♯ dorian | F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ |
| G dorian | G A B♭ C D E F G |
| A♭ dorian | A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ |
| A dorian | A B C D E F♯ G A |
| B♭ dorian | B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ |
| B dorian | B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A B |