A Dorian scale

1 sharp: F♯ · pattern W–H–W–W–W–H–W

A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G

Step patternWHWWWHW

Chords in A Dorian

iAm

iiBm

IIIC

IVD

vEm

vi°F♯dim

VIIG

Scale degrees

Degree	Note	Name	Half steps from A
1	A	Tonic	0
2	B	Supertonic	2
3	C	Mediant	3
4	D	Subdominant	5
5	E	Dominant	7
6	F♯	Submediant	9
7	G	Subtonic	10

About this scale

Dorian is natural minor with a raised 6th (F♯), which gives it a brighter, hopeful minor sound heard in funk, jazz and songs like “Scarborough Fair”. It’s the 2nd mode of F𝄪 major.

Seventh chords in A Dorian scale

i7 Am7ii7 Bm7IIImaj7 Cmaj7IV7 D7v7 Em7viø7 F♯m7♭5VIImaj7 Gmaj7

Other A scales

A major A natural minor A harmonic minor A melodic minor A major pentatonic A minor pentatonic A blues A Mixolydian

Dorian scale in other keys

C C♯D E♭E F F♯G A♭B♭B

Questions

What are the notes of the A Dorian scale?

A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G, and back to A.

How many sharps or flats are in A Dorian scale?

1: F♯.

What is the step pattern of the Dorian scale?

W–H–W–W–W–H–W, where W is a whole step (two keys) and H is a half step (the next key). Start that pattern on A to get this scale.