Dorian Mode – Formula, Parent Scale, and Notes for Every Key

You can find a table with note names for all 12 Dorian modes by scrolling further down. Jump to table

Introduction to the Dorian mode

The Dorian mode is a real favourite of mine. There are many modes that I love the sound of and enjoy improvising and composing with, but the Dorian mode tops them all for me. It can be so lyrical and melodic, and it is capable of expressing so many different emotions and colours, depending on how you shape it. Part of its versatility is due to it’s melancholy minor 3rd, along with the raised 6th that lifts the mood — so it can be both sad and hopeful at the same time. This combination of flat 3rd and raised 6th makes it almost like a reverse image of the Mixolydian ♭6 Mode with it’s warm major 3rd and shadowy flat 6th. 

The Dorian mode appears in a diverse range of musical styles, showing its versatility. It is found in funk and jazz, folk traditions, Renaissance music, film scores, and pop.
The song “Mad World” by Tears for Fears is written in E Dorian, and many of David Gilmour’s Pink Floyd solos draw on Dorian colours. The traditional English folk song “Scarborough Fair” is also in the Dorian mode.

I used the Dorian mode extensively as a teenager and adolescent in my compositions and improvisations. When I was very young I first discovered D Dorian, with its approachability due to being all white keys on the piano. I found myself experimenting with other Dorian modes too such as C Dorian — despite having exactly the same pattern of tones and semitones, the feel is slightly changed due to different pitches, timbres and finger positions on the piano. 

Now as an adult in my late 40s, I find myself returning to the Dorian mode a lot, and it feels a bit like greeting an old friend. You can hear some examples of my improvisations using the Dorian mode here: 

More improvisations using the Dorian mode

How to work out the Dorian Mode

The Dorian mode is the second mode of the major scale.
To find any Dorian mode, start on the second degree of its parent major scale and use the interval formula:
Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone.

This produces a minor scale with a raised 6th compared to the natural minor (Aeolian) mode. 

You can also think of it as the major (Ionian) with a flattened 3rd and 7th.

For example, D Dorian comes from C major and contains the notes D–E–F–G–A–B–C — the same notes as C major, but with D as the tonal centre.

Here is a table detailing the exact notes of all the Dorian modes, along with their parent scales:

Parent Major Scale	Dorian Mode	Notes (ascending)
B♭ Major	C Dorian	C – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭
B Major	C♯ Dorian / D♭ Dorian	C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B / D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭
C Major	D Dorian	D – E – F – G – A – B – C
D♭ Major	E♭ Dorian	E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭
D Major	E Dorian	E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D
E♭ Major	F Dorian	F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E♭
E Major	F♯ Dorian / G♭ Dorian	F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯ – E / G♭ – A♭ – B♭♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭
F Major	G Dorian	G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F
G♭ Major / F♯ Major	A♭ Dorian / G♯ Dorian	A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ / G♯– A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯
G Major	A Dorian	A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G
A♭ Major	B♭ Dorian	B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A♭
A Major	B Dorian	B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A

If you’re exploring modal colours, you might also enjoy my guide to the Mixolydian ♭6 mode, or my guide on how to start improvising in the Phrygian mode.

Read about more modes here

You can find a general guide to all the modes here: Complete Guide to Modes of the Major, Melodic Minor, and Harmonic Minor Scales

I hope you have enjoyed my examples and found this guide useful. Let me know in the comments which style of music you like to hear the Dorian mode in. 

My improvisations and articles reflect the same detailed, reflective approach I bring to teaching — including my video exchange lessons, where I provide personalised written and video feedback to students worldwide.