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D Dorian Scale for Guitar

Minor with a lifted 6th — the jazz and funk mode.

Minor in character, but with a raised sixth that lifts it.
That one note is all that separates it from natural minor.
Shares its exact note set with C Major and A Minor.
A favourite mode in jazz, funk and modal rock.

Position 1 — root on the 6th string, 10th fret

Root2nd3rd4th5th6th7th

Notes: D – E – F – G – A – B – C · Formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7

Across the Fretboard — Full Neck

Root2nd3rd4th5th6th7th

Positions 3–5 continue further up the neck.

One common CAGED approach; positions vary between teachers/methods.

Every D Dorian Mode note from the open strings to the 17th fret — the root (white ring) repeats every octave.

Hear It For Yourself

This scale sounds even better than it looks.

Light up D Dorian across the whole fretboard and hear every note in context.

Play D Dorian in the Studio →

Questions about D Dorian

What notes are in the D Dorian scale?

The D Dorian scale contains the notes D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Its interval formula is 1 - 2 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - ♭7, built from D as the root.

What makes Dorian different from natural minor?

One note: the sixth is raised a half-step. That single change lifts the scale out of pure melancholy and gives it the bright-but-still-minor quality you hear all over jazz and funk — the sound of a minor groove that doesn't feel sad.

How it compares

Dorian vs Natural MinorComparison Dorian vs MixolydianComparison Compare any two scalesInteractive tool