Notes in the D Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Tonic |
| 2 | E | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | F | Mediant |
| 4 | G | Subdominant |
| 5 | A | Dominant |
| 6 | B | Submediant |
| ♭7 | C | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: D E F G A B C.
D 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 D Dorian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Dm | Dm7 |
| ii | Em | Em7 |
| III | F | Fmaj7 |
| IV | G | G7 |
| v | Am | Am7 |
| vi° | B° | Bø7 |
| VII | C | Cmaj7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: C Major, which has exactly the same notes as D Dorian.
How to practise the D 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 D Dorian scale?
The notes of the D Dorian scale are D E F G A B C.
What is the formula for the D 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 D Dorian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Dm, Em, F, G, Am, B°, C.
More D scales
D Major, D Natural Minor, D Harmonic Minor, D Melodic Minor, D Phrygian, D Lydian, D Mixolydian, D Locrian, D Major Pentatonic, D Minor Pentatonic, D Blues, D Lydian Dominant, D Altered, D Whole Tone, D Dorian ♭2, D Lydian Augmented, D Mixolydian ♭6, D Locrian ♯2, D Phrygian Dominant, D Hungarian Minor, D Double Harmonic, D Diminished (W–H), D Diminished (H–W), D Bebop Dominant, D 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.