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Scale · 7 notes

E Dorian Scale

E Dorian is a 7-note scale with the notes E F♯ G A B C♯ D. It sounds minor with a bright raised 6th, cool and groovy, common in funk, rock and jazz.

DEGABC♯F♯

Purple = E (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every E dorian note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯GABC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯GABDEF♯GABC♯DEGABC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯G

Blue = E (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the E Dorian scale

DegreeNoteName
1ETonic
2F♯Supertonic
♭3GMediant
4ASubdominant
5BDominant
6C♯Submediant
♭7DSubtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: E F♯ G A B C♯ D.

E 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 E Dorian scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
iEmEm7
iiF♯mF♯m7
IIIGGmaj7
IVAA7
vBmBm7
vi°C♯°C♯ø7
VIIDDmaj7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

Related scales

  • Parent major scale: D Major, which has exactly the same notes as E Dorian.

How to practise the E 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 E Dorian scale?

The notes of the E Dorian scale are E F♯ G A B C♯ D.

What is the formula for the E 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 E Dorian scale?

Built from the scale in triads: Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm, C♯°, D.

More E scales

E Major, E Natural Minor, E Harmonic Minor, E Melodic Minor, E Phrygian, E Lydian, E Mixolydian, E Locrian, E Major Pentatonic, E Minor Pentatonic, E Blues, E Lydian Dominant, E Altered, E Whole Tone, E Dorian ♭2, E Lydian Augmented, E Mixolydian ♭6, E Locrian ♯2, E Phrygian Dominant, E Hungarian Minor, E Double Harmonic, E Diminished (W–H), E Diminished (H–W), E Bebop Dominant, E 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.