Standard tuning · 7 positions · notes & degrees
D Dorian Mode on Guitar
The D Dorian mode has 7 notes — D E F G A B C (1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7). Minor with a raised 6th — cooler and jazzier than natural minor. Below: every note on the neck, 7 positions to learn (three notes per string), the chords that fit, and a backing track to jam over.
D Dorian mode: the whole neck
7 positions to learn
Each position covers four or five frets so you can play the scale without moving your hand. Learn position 1 first (it starts on the root, D, at fret 10 of the low E string), then join it to the next one up the neck. Press ▶ Play to hear a position up and back down.
Jam over it
Notes and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval from D | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | root | 0 |
| 2 | E | major 2nd | 2 |
| ♭3 | F | minor 3rd | 3 |
| 4 | G | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | A | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | B | major 6th | 9 |
| ♭7 | C | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords that go with the D Dorian mode
These chords are built from the same notes, so the Dorian fits over all of them. Tap a chord to see how to play it.
How to practise it
- Slow and even first: play position 1 up and down with the metronome at 60–70 BPM, one note per click, then two.
- Say the notes: switch the view to Degrees and land on the root (D) at the end of every phrase — that is what makes a solo sound finished.
- Connect the positions: once two positions feel easy, slide between them on one string so the neck becomes one big map.
- Make music, not exercises: start the backing above and play short phrases with gaps between them.
Dorian in other keys
Other scales in D
New to scales? Start with the guitar scales guide, learn the notes with fretboard notes, or test your ear with the daily challenge.
Questions
What notes are in the D Dorian mode?
D, E, F, G, A, B, C. As scale degrees that is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.
How do you play the D Dorian mode on guitar?
Start with position 1: it begins on D at fret 10 of the low E string and covers frets 10–15, three notes per string. The diagrams on this page show every position and the whole neck.
What is the Dorian mode used for?
It is used in funk, jazz, fusion, Latin rock and modal jams. Minor with a raised 6th — cooler and jazzier than natural minor.