Dorian Mode

E Dorian Mode

Minor with a bright 6th — funk vamps, modal jazz, and Santana.

Notes: E F♯ G A B C♯ D
Formula: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7
Sound: cool, jazzy
Guitar positions: 2

Jump to the patterns All guitar scales Key of E Minor

The patterns on guitar

2 fretboard positions in standard tuning, low string on the left. Every dot is a note of the scale and the number inside it is the scale degree, so you can see the shape and the theory at once.

root notescale notenumbers inside the dots are scale degrees

Box 1

Position 1 (6th-string root)

Open position

When to use it: It lands in open position for this key, so the open strings carry the low notes — easy to play, but the one shape you cannot slide to another key. Root on the 6th string. Learn this one first — matching the root to a fret is all it takes to move the shape to any key.

Box 2

Position 2 (5th-string root)

Frets 7–10

When to use it: Root on the 5th string. Use it when the tonic is easier to find on the A string, or when you want the scale to sit higher.

The notes

7 notes, built off E with the formula 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7. Dorian is natural minor with the 6th raised, which takes the mourning out of minor and leaves something cooler. Play it over a static i–IV vamp and the raised 6th is the note doing the work.

Tap any note to hear it on its own.

Chords built from this scale

Stack every other note of the scale and you get its seven diatonic chords. These are the chords that sound at home over this scale — a progression made only of these will never leave the key.

Diatonic chords of the E Dorian mode
Degree	Chord	Notes	Seventh	Function
i	Em	E G B	Em7	tonic — everything resolves here
ii	F♯m	F♯ A C♯	F♯m7	supertonic — pre-dominant — the usual step toward the dominant
III	G	G B D	Gmaj7	mediant — relative-major colour
IV	A	A C♯ E	A7	subdominant — the lift away from home
v	Bm	B D F♯	Bm7	dominant — a softer, modal pull home
vi°	C♯dim	C♯ E G	C♯m7♭5	submediant — unstable
VII	D	D F♯ A	Dmaj7	subtonic — a whole step below home, no pull

Common questions

What notes are in the E Dorian Mode?

The E Dorian mode has 7 notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D. The interval formula is 1–2–♭3–4–5–6–♭7, counted up from E.

What chords are in the E Dorian Mode?

The E Dorian mode builds seven diatonic chords: i Em, ii F#m, III G, IV A, v Bm, vi° C#dim, VII D.

Where do I start on guitar?

Start with Position 1 (6th-string root) in open position. It lands in open position for this key, so the open strings carry the low notes — easy to play, but the one shape you cannot slide to another key. Root on the 6th string. Learn this one first — matching the root to a fret is all it takes to move the shape to any key.

Learn the theory behind it

The patterns above get your fingers moving. These explain what the notes are actually doing, so you can use the scale instead of just running it.