The C Dorian Mode on Guitar
C, D, Eb, F, G, A and Bb are the notes of the C Dorian scale. They are the notes of Bb major, started from the second degree, which is why Dorian is often called the second mode.
The A is what matters: a natural sixth over a minor third gives the scale a lift that C minor does not have. Find the root on the 8th fret of the low E string or the 3rd fret of the A string. To see where Dorian sits among all the modes, read how modes work on guitar.
Play the C dorian scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the C dorian scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Root | 0 |
| D | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| Eb | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| F | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| G | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| A | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| Bb | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
C dorian scale notes:
How the dorian scale is built:
The dorian scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W-W-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 2 of the Major Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
C Dorian Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (B)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the C dorian scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the dorian scale, starting from a different degree.
The dorian scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
