G Dorian Guitar Scale

G Dorian Scale — Notes and Intervals

The G Dorian scale is the second mode of the major scale, offering a soulful and sophisticated minor sound. On Guitar, it contains the notes G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F. Because it features a major sixth, it sounds brighter and more hopeful than the natural minor. It is the go-to scale for jazz, funk, and modal blues. The diatonic chords of G Dorian are Gm7, Am7, BbMaj7, C7, Dm7, Em7b5, FMaj7. Commonly used in Funk, Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, Blues. Notable players include Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, D'Angelo. Use over m7, m9, m11, m13 chords. The go-to scale for any minor chord in funk, jazz, and soul. Works especially well over long minor vamps.

Notes: G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m

Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

Formula: W-H-W-W-W-H-W

Number of notes: 7

Diatonic Chords

Gm7 — Am7 — B♭Maj7 — C7 — Dm7 — Em7♭5 — FMaj7

Musical Character

The natural 6th degree (vs b6 in Aeolian) gives Dorian its signature 'hopeful minor' character — darker than major, but brighter than natural minor.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Funk, Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, Blues

Notable players: Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, D'Angelo

How to Use the G Dorian Scale

Use over m7, m9, m11, m13 chords. The go-to scale for any minor chord in funk, jazz, and soul. Works especially well over long minor vamps.

Origin & Background

Named after the ancient Greek Dorians. Central to modal jazz since Miles Davis's Kind of Blue (1959). Represents a point of perfect balance in the modal spectrum — the only mode that produces the same mode when inverted. Sibelius's Symphony No. 6 in D Minor is actually composed in D Dorian. Nicolas Slonimsky described it as 'neutral in its equilibrium'.

How to Play G Dorian on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 3 on the 6th (low E) to find your G root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position using open G string.

The G Dorian scale contains 1 flat (Bb). Its relative major is Bb major, which shares the same key signature.

Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing

Begin by playing the G Dorian scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (G-Bb, A-C) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.

Try these progressions with the G Dorian scale: Gm7 - C7 - Dm7 - Gm7 (I-IV-V-I) or Gm7 - Am7 - C7 - Dm7 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in neo-soul contexts.

Guitar Tips

Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the G Dorian scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently. Aim for a soulful quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

Dorian is the 2nd mode of the Major scale. View G Major scale

• G Aeolian
• G Minor pentatonic
• G Minor six pentatonic
• G Kafi raga

The G Dorian scale contains 7 notes (G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for G Dorian

The G Dorian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore G Dorian Further

• Harmonize the G Dorian scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• G Dorian on Ukulele
• G Dorian on Bass
• G Dorian on Piano

Explore G Dorian in Other Tunings

• G Dorian in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• G Dorian in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• G Dorian in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• G Dorian in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• G Dorian in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• G Dorian in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• G Dorian in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• G Dorian in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• G Dorian in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• G Dorian in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• G Dorian in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• G Dorian in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• G Dorian in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• G Dorian in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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