G Dorian scale on guitar

The G Dorian scale has 7 notes: G, A, B♭, C, D, E and F. A minor scale with a raised 6th. That one note makes it brighter and jazzier than natural minor; it is common in funk, jazz, rock jams and folk.

Open in the interactive fretboard

Notes in G Dorian

Formula
1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7
Step pattern
W – H – W – W – W – H – W
Notes
7

Tap a note to hear it.

G Dorian across the neck

open123456789101112EFGAB♭CDEAB♭CDEFGADEFGAB♭CDGAB♭CDEFGCDEFGAB♭EFGAB♭CDE

Every G Dorian note on the first 12 frets in standard tuning. Filled dots are the root, G. A good place to start: G on the low E string is at fret 3, so play the notes between frets 2 and 6 first, then move up the neck.

Intervals

DegreeNoteInterval from G
1GRoot
2AMajor 2nd
♭3B♭Minor 3rd
4CPerfect 4th
5DPerfect 5th
6EMajor 6th
♭7FMinor 7th

Chords in G Dorian

Stack every other note of the scale and you get these triads. Any of them will sound “at home” with the G Dorian scale.

H = half step (1 fret), W = whole step (2 frets). Roman numerals: uppercase is major, lowercase is minor, ° is diminished, + is augmented.

Related scales

Questions

What notes are in the G Dorian scale?

G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.

Where do I start the G Dorian scale on guitar?

G on the low E string is at fret 3, so play the notes between frets 2 and 6 first. The fretboard map on this page shows every G Dorian note on the first 12 frets.

What scales are related to G Dorian?

It has the same notes as F major, starting from that scale’s 2nd note.

More scales

Dorian in every key

Other scales from G

Open the scale toolChord library