How To Play The Dorian Scale On Guitar

My first guitar teacher taught me the modes.

I remember leaving my lessons with a sheet of paper that had all these patterns ​handwritten out in blue pen.

He wrote strange words above each pattern like Ionian and Dorian… In this post, I want to talk about one of those modes… How to play the Dorian scale on guitar. This scale is a great one to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. 

I’ll share two different ways to play the A Dorian scale on guitar. Plus how to practice it, and finally, a few examples of songs and progressions where I would use the Dorian scale on context.

So make sure you’re tuned up, and let’s get started!

What is the Dorian scale on guitar?

The Dorian scale is the second mode of the major scale. It’s a minor scale with a natural 6th. If you compare it with the natural minor scale (Aeolian), you raise the 6th tone. This one change gives it a slightly brighter, jazzier feel compared to the natural minor (Aeolian) scale.

Let’s look at an example. The A natural minor scale uses the notes:

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A

You may have noticed that’s the same notes as the C major scale, just starting on a different note. (Tip: these would be all the white notes on the piano.)

Now let’s change it to an A Dorian (which is derived from G  major):

A - B - C - D - E - F# - G - A

So here, we raised the 6th tone which gets a slightly brighter sound. But it still sounds like a minor scale because of the ♭3.

What is the formula for the Dorian scale?

The formula for the Dorian scale is:

1 - 2 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - ♭7

You can follow these steps starting on any root note to get a Dorian mode:

W - H - W - W - W - H - W

This means:

• Start on the root note
• Move a whole step
• Move a half step
• Move three whole steps in a row
• Move a half step
• End with a whole step

Here’s what that would look like starting on the note D:

(D - E) → W
(E - F) → H
(F - G) → W
(G - A) → W
(A - B) → W
(B - C) → H
(C - D) → W

This W-H formula works for any starting note to build the Dorian scale in any key.

On the guitar, you can play the A Dorian scale in various positions across the fretboard.

Here is the first example I would start with:

This scale pattern starts on the open 5th string (A). It ascends up the scale to the octave on the 2nd fret 3rd string. The easiest way to start is to play each one of these notes with downstrums in the strum hand. 

Make sure you are getting each note clean and playing close to the frets. Now, you may be wondering… 

What fingers do you use for A Dorian scale?

For the fretting hand, I would play from 2nd position. This means:

2nd fret = 1st finger
3rd fret = 2nd finger
4th fret = 3rd finger
5th fret = 4th finger

Basically, they line up 1, 2, 3, 4 but starting on the 2nd fret. 

This would be playing from 2nd position. Playing "in position" refers to using a simple system within a specific fret range on the neck of the guitar, typically spanning four frets. 

When playing in position, you generally keep your hand and fingers within a fixed span on the neck, allowing you to pluck notes and patterns without excessive hand movement up and down the neck. This is a secret to navigating the fretboard more efficiently and developing a better understanding of scale patterns and note relationships.

Next, let’s expand on our one-octave scale above a two octave pattern:

This now gives us all the notes in this specific area of the fretboard. To learn more about how to do this all over the neck, grab my free fretboard guide here:

How to Practice the Dorian Scale on Guitar

Practicing the Dorian scale with a metronome is a great way to improve your timing, accuracy, and consistency. Since this scale has some tricky combinations to it focusing on smooth transitions is key.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to practice the Dorian scale with a metronome:

• Set Your Metronome – Start at a slow, comfortable tempo, then gradually increase the speed as you gain control.
• Learn the Scale Fingering – Familiarize yourself with the Dorian scale across different positions on the guitar. Make sure you know the correct sequence of notes and fingerings. (See my fretboard guide for more on this)
• Start on One String – Play the scale ascending (going up) on a single string (e.g., the low E string) to get a feel for the pattern.
• Play to a Metronome – Match each note to the beat, and keep a steady rhythm. Begin with quarter notes (one note per click).
• Focus on Technique – Listen to make sure each note rings out clearly. Be mindful of your sound and avoid rushing it.
• Increase Difficulty – Once comfortable, you can increase the tempo gradually.
• Experiment with different rhythms, like eighth notes or triplets.
• Stay Consistent – Focus on accuracy first, then speed. A clean, and controlled scale is better than a rushed, sloppy one.

By following this method, you'll develop fluency and control of the Dorian scale, making it easier to apply in solos and improvisation.

What songs use the Dorian scale?

There are a lot of great songs that use the Dorian scale. Here are 3 examples to check out that will help you hear the Dorian sound in context.

1. Moondance (Van Morrison)

Whenever you have a minor i chord moving to a minor ii chord. This is a wonderful place to play the Dorian scale in your improvisations. In this case, the chord changes have a slightly jazzier sophistication to them. They are: Am7 to Bm7.

2. Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)

Again here is another example in a funkier context. This progression moves from F#m to G#m. Essentially it’s 2 minor chords a whole step apart.  

Finally, we have… 

3. Light My Fire (The Doors)

This is again contains the same progression as “Moondance” – Am7 to Bm7.

It’s used for the solo section where Manzarek and Robbie Krieger play extended improvisations.

Conclusion:

Learning the Dorian scale on guitar is both exciting and super important for all guitar players. It gives you a toolbox to help you solo in new ways all over the neck. 

If you’ve struggled to do this, then continue this lesson with my  free fretboard guide PDF that shows you more right here now: 

Jon MacLennan