Mode reference
Dorian mode
The minor scale with a natural sixth where natural minor has a flattened one · C Dorian = C – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭
Dorian is the second mode of the major scale, which means C Dorian uses the notes of B♭ major but treats C as home. Every mode on this page keeps that relationship: the same step pattern, started somewhere new.
Minor without the heaviness. The raised sixth lifts it, which is why it is the default minor sound in folk, funk and modal jazz.
C Dorian
- C1tone
- D2semi
- E♭3tone
- F4tone
- G5tone
- A6semi
- B♭7tone
- C8
Every degree
| Degree | Note | Interval from the tonic | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Unison | 0 |
| 2 | D | Major second | 2 |
| 3 | E♭ | Minor third | 3 |
| 4 | F | Perfect fourth | 5 |
| 5 | G | Perfect fifth | 7 |
| 6 | A | Major sixth | 9 |
| 7 | B♭ | Minor seventh | 10 |
Dorian on every root
Each row is the same step pattern started somewhere new. The last column is the major scale that contains the same notes — useful when you want to find the mode by thinking in a key you already know.
| Tonic | Notes | Same notes as |
|---|---|---|
| C | C – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭ | B♭ major |
| D♭ | D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ | C♭ major |
| D | D – E – F – G – A – B – C | C major |
| E♭ | E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ | D♭ major |
| E | E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D | D major |
| F | F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E♭ | E♭ major |
| F♯ | F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯ – E | E major |
| G | G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F | F major |
| A♭ | A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ | G♭ major |
| A | A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G | G major |
| B♭ | B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A♭ | A♭ major |
| B | B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A | A major |
Hearing it rather than spelling it
A mode is only a mode while the music keeps treating its tonic as home. Played over a B♭ bass, C Dorian is just B♭ major. Played over a C drone, the alterations become unmistakable. That is why modal writing tends to stay on one chord for a long time.