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D Dorian scale

It has 7 notes: D E F G A B C. Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.

Degree12♭3456♭7
NoteDEFGABC

Patterns

Strings run like tab: high e on top. Numbers are scale degrees; amber dots are the root.

Position 2Open position, frets 0–3 · root D
eBGDAE1232b3456b712b3456b712b34
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 0 (2), 1 (b3), 3 (4)
  • B: 0 (6), 1 (b7), 3 (1)
  • G: 0 (4), 2 (5)
  • D: 0 (1), 2 (2), 3 (b3)
  • A: 0 (5), 2 (6), 3 (b7)
  • E: 0 (2), 1 (b3), 3 (4)
Position 3Frets 1–5 · root D
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Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 1 (b3), 3 (4), 5 (5)
  • B: 1 (b7), 3 (1), 5 (2)
  • G: 2 (5), 4 (6)
  • D: 2 (2), 3 (b3), 5 (4)
  • A: 2 (6), 3 (b7), 5 (1)
  • E: 1 (b3), 3 (4), 5 (5)
Position 4Frets 4–8 · root D
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Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 5 (5), 7 (6), 8 (b7)
  • B: 5 (2), 6 (b3), 8 (4)
  • G: 4 (6), 5 (b7), 7 (1)
  • D: 5 (4), 7 (5)
  • A: 5 (1), 7 (2), 8 (b3)
  • E: 5 (5), 7 (6), 8 (b7)
Position 5Frets 6–10 · root D
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Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 7 (6), 8 (b7), 10 (1)
  • B: 6 (b3), 8 (4), 10 (5)
  • G: 7 (1), 9 (2)
  • D: 7 (5), 9 (6), 10 (b7)
  • A: 7 (2), 8 (b3), 10 (4)
  • E: 7 (6), 8 (b7), 10 (1)
Position 1Frets 9–13 · root D
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Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 10 (1), 12 (2), 13 (b3)
  • B: 10 (5), 12 (6), 13 (b7)
  • G: 9 (2), 10 (b3), 12 (4)
  • D: 9 (6), 10 (b7), 12 (1)
  • A: 10 (4), 12 (5)
  • E: 10 (1), 12 (2), 13 (b3)
3 notes per string, from the rootFrets 10–15 · root D
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Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 12 (2), 13 (b3), 15 (4)
  • B: 12 (6), 13 (b7), 15 (1)
  • G: 10 (b3), 12 (4), 14 (5)
  • D: 10 (b7), 12 (1), 14 (2)
  • A: 10 (4), 12 (5), 14 (6)
  • E: 10 (1), 12 (2), 13 (b3)

Same notes, different home

These scales use exactly the same notes, centered on a different root.

Chords it fits

This scale in other keys

Other scales in D

Learn it in the course