A Dorian

Soulful, minor but with hope — built from G major

PARENT FAMILY · G MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (G major). A Dorian is the II mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	G Ionian	Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	A Dorian	Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	B Phrygian	Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	C Lydian	Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	D Mixolydian	D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	E Aeolian	Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	F♯ Locrian	F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7

A B C D E F♯ G

Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7

The Dorian scale on A contains the notes A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G. The pentatonic subset is A, B, D, E, G.

Characteristic note: the natural 6th separates Dorian from the minor (Aeolian).

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Am7

II

Bm7

III

Cmaj7

IV

D7

V

Em7

VI

F♯m7♭5

VII

Gmaj7

▸ Play A Dorian over Am7 and D7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · SOULFUL, MINOR BUT WITH HOPE

SOULFUL, MINOR BUT WITH HOPE

A Dorian is a minor mode with a soulful, minor but with hope character. It is the II mode of G major — it uses the same 7 notes as G Ionian but is rooted on A, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Am7.

Where to use A Dorian

Jazz, blues-rock, funk, Latin.

Famous examples

So What (Miles Davis)
Oye Como Va
Scarborough Fair

What makes it distinctive: the natural 6th separates Dorian from the minor (Aeolian).

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