Notes in the C Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Tonic |
| 2 | D | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | E♭ | Mediant |
| 4 | F | Subdominant |
| 5 | G | Dominant |
| 6 | A | Submediant |
| ♭7 | B♭ | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C D E♭ F G A B♭.
C Dorian scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – H – W – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.
Chords in the C Dorian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | Cm7 |
| ii | Dm | Dm7 |
| III | E♭ | E♭maj7 |
| IV | F | F7 |
| v | Gm | Gm7 |
| vi° | A° | Aø7 |
| VII | B♭ | B♭maj7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: B♭ Major, which has exactly the same notes as C Dorian.
How to practise the C Dorian scale
Learn each mode by its characteristic note: the one that makes it different from the major or minor scale it most resembles. Play a drone on the tonic while you play the scale to hear its colour.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the C Dorian scale?
The notes of the C Dorian scale are C D E♭ F G A B♭.
What is the formula for the C Dorian scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is W – H – W – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.
What chords are in the C Dorian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Cm, Dm, E♭, F, Gm, A°, B♭.
More C scales
C Major, C Natural Minor, C Harmonic Minor, C Melodic Minor, C Phrygian, C Lydian, C Mixolydian, C Locrian, C Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, C Blues, C Lydian Dominant, C Altered, C Whole Tone, C Dorian ♭2, C Lydian Augmented, C Mixolydian ♭6, C Locrian ♯2, C Phrygian Dominant, C Hungarian Minor, C Double Harmonic, C Diminished (W–H), C Diminished (H–W), C Bebop Dominant, C Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.