About the C Dorian Scale
The C dorian scale is a 7-note scale. Minor scale with raised 6th, jazzy sound. Its notes are C, D, D#, F, G, A and A#, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.
- Notes
- C – D – D# – F – G – A – A#
- Formula
- 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7
- Steps
- W H W W W H W (2–1–2–2–2–1–2 semitones)
- Root
- C
C Dorian Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Root |
| 2 | D | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | D# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | A | Major 6th |
| ♭7 | A# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the C Dorian Scale on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (C) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| E1 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| A1 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| C3 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
How to practice the dorian scale
- Highlight the natural 6th degree
- Practice over minor 7th vamps
- Work on jazz-style phrasing
- Try Santana-style melodic lines
- Compare with natural minor to hear difference
Scales with the same notes as C Dorian Scale
These scales share every note with the C dorian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Dorian scale in other keys
Other scales in C
- C Minor Pentatonic
- C Major Pentatonic
- C Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C Natural Minor
- C Major (Ionian)
- C Blues
- C Mixolydian
- C Phrygian
- C Harmonic Minor
- C Lydian
- C Locrian
- C Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C Whole Tone
- C Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C Altered (Super Locrian)
- C Phrygian Dominant
- C Lydian Dominant
- C Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C Bebop Dominant
- C Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)