C Dorian scale

2 flats: E♭ B♭ · pattern W–H–W–W–W–H–W

C – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭

Step patternWHWWWHW

Chords in C Dorian

iCm

iiDm

IIIE♭

IVF

vGm

vi°Adim

VIIB♭

Scale degrees

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

About this scale

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

Seventh chords in C Dorian scale

i7 Cm7ii7 Dm7IIImaj7 E♭maj7IV7 F7v7 Gm7viø7 Am7♭5VIImaj7 B♭maj7

Other C scales

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

Dorian scale in other keys

C♯D E♭E F F♯G A♭A B♭B

Questions

What are the notes of the C Dorian scale?

C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭, and back to C.

How many sharps or flats are in C Dorian scale?

2: E♭, B♭.

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 C to get this scale.