Chord Colors

G Dorian scale

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About the G Dorian scale

G Dorian is used for funk, jazz, Celtic tunes and moody-but-groovy rock like "So What" and "Scarborough Fair". Think of it as a minor scale with a hopeful lift, thanks to its raised sixth. It is G Mixolydian with the third lowered.

Its notes are G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. The formula is W H W W W H W. It is the second mode of F Major.

Also called Kafi and Kharaharapriya.

Learn more about the G Dorian scale

In G Dorian, the open strings sound E, A, D, and G. The 3rd fret of the low E string is the lowest G on the neck. The first three frets carry a complete octave of this scale, a genuine open-position shape.

Positions

Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.

CAGED

Five shapes, each anchored to a chord form you already know, the pop and rock default that ties your scales to your chords. The outlined notes are that chord, so you can see the C, A, G, E, and D shapes inside the scale.

G shapeopen
E shapefr 2
D shapefr 5
C shapefr 7
A shapefr 9
3NPS

3NPS stands for 3 notes per string. It lays the scale out in seven even shapes for rock and metal lead, and favors speed because the picking pattern stays consistent across every string.

Shape 1open
Shape 2fr 1
Shape 3fr 3
Shape 4fr 5
Shape 5fr 6
Shape 6fr 8
Shape 7fr 10
7-position system

7 four-fret boxes, one per scale degree, each a single hand position with almost no shifting. The jazz and classical way, from William Leavitt's Berklee method.

Position 1open
Position 2fr 1
Position 3fr 3
Position 4fr 5
Position 5fr 6
Position 6fr 8
Position 7fr 10

Chords in the key of G Dorian

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

i G minor
Position 1 of 4
ii A minor
Position 1 of 4
III B flat
Position 1 of 4
IV C
Position 1 of 4
v D minor
Position 1 of 4
vi° E diminished
Position 1 of 4
VII F
Position 1 of 4

Seventh chords in G Dorian

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

i G minor seven
Position 1 of 4
3fr
ii A minor seven
Position 1 of 4
III B flat major seven
Position 1 of 4
IV C seven
Position 1 of 4
v D minor seven
Position 1 of 4
vi° E minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4
VII F major seven
Position 1 of 4

Progressions in G Dorian

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Common
Common

Notes and intervals

1GGRoot
2AAMajor 2nd
3BbB♭Minor 3rd
4CCPerfect 4th
5DDPerfect 5th
6EEMajor 6th
7FFMinor 7th
StepsW H W W W H W
Semitones2-1-2-2-2-1-2
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Dorian in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

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G Dorian scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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