F Dorian mode on guitar

The Dorian mode is a minor scale with a major sixth. Brighter than the natural minor, it is widely used in jazz, funk and rock.

On the whole neck

EADGBEFGA♭B♭CDE♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭DE♭FGA♭B♭CDGA♭B♭CDE♭FGCDE♭FGA♭B♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭0123456789101112
EADGBEFGA♭B♭CDE♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭DE♭FGA♭B♭CDGA♭B♭CDE♭FGCDE♭FGA♭B♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭0123456789101112

Open position

EADGBEFGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭01234
EADGBEFGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭01234

Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Froot
2Gmajor second
3A♭ (A flat)minor third
4B♭ (B flat)perfect fourth
5Cperfect fifth
6Dmajor sixth
7E♭ (E flat)minor seventh

Steps between notes: W – H – W – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

This mode uses the same notes as the E flat major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Fmi
  2. Gmii
  3. A♭III
  4. B♭IV
  5. Cmv
  6. Ddimvi°
  7. E♭VII

Other F scales

The same scale in other keys