A Dorian Mode
A–B–C–D–E–F#–G
A Dorian is the 2nd mode of the G major scale: A–B–C–D–E–F#–G. Its character: bittersweet, sophisticated, and groovy — minor but with a hopeful twist.
The natural 6th is what separates Dorian from natural minor. In D Dorian, that means B natural instead of Bb. This one note lifts the scale from pure sadness into something jazzy and hip. On guitar, target the natural 6th (F#) in your phrases — landing on it against the root is what makes a line sound Dorian instead of plain minor.
Because every mode of G major shares the same seven notes, any G major fretboard shape works for A Dorian — what changes is the note you resolve to. Loop a Am vamp or a backing track that stays on A, keep resolving your phrases to A, and the Dorian color comes through. You'll hear this sound in jazz, funk, rock and r&b.
A Dorian is mode 2 of G Major — same seven notes, resolved to A instead.
A Dorian on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the mode — blue dots are the root (A).
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G |
The highlighted F# is the natural 6th — the note that gives Dorian its sound.
Dorian vs. Natural Minor
Everything else about the two scales is identical — these are the only degrees that change.
| A natural minor | A Dorian | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ♭6 | 6 | F# |
Chords in A Dorian
The seven chords of G Major, reordered to start from A — vamping between the first two or three keeps the Dorian sound from collapsing back into the parent key.
Songs That Use the Dorian Sound
Santana — “Oye Como Va”
In A Dorian. The entire song vamps on Am7 to D7, a classic Dorian progression. Santana's lead lines emphasize the natural 6th (F#) to create that Latin-jazz feel rather than straight minor.
Miles Davis — “So What”
In D Dorian (Eb Dorian for the bridge). The definitive Dorian composition — the piano voicings and trumpet melodies highlight the natural 6th (B natural) throughout.
Pink Floyd — “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2”
In D Dorian. David Gilmour's guitar solo uses D Dorian over the Dm groove, leaning on the B natural (natural 6th) to avoid sounding too dark. The solo's melodic quality comes from Dorian's brighter character.
Daft Punk — “Get Lucky”
In B Dorian. Nile Rodgers' guitar part and the vocal melody both emphasize the Dorian quality — the progression (Bm–D–F#m–E) outlines the mode with the natural 6th (G#).
A Dorian Mode FAQ
What is the A Dorian mode?
A Dorian is the 2nd mode of the G major scale — the same seven notes starting from A: A–B–C–D–E–F#–G. The interval formula is R–2–♭3–4–5–6–♭7.
What is the difference between A Dorian and A natural minor?
One note: where A natural minor has ♭6, A Dorian has 6 (F#). That single half-step is the entire difference in sound — everything else about the two scales is identical.
What chords work with A Dorian?
The seven chords of the parent G major scale, reordered to start from A: Am (i), Bm (ii), C (♭III), D (IV), Em (v), F#° (vi°), G (♭VII). A two-chord vamp between Am and D is the classic way to establish the Dorian sound without drifting back to the parent key.
What major scale has the same notes as A Dorian?
G major. A Dorian uses exactly the notes of G major starting from its 2nd degree, so every G major shape on the fretboard doubles as a A Dorian shape. The same notes also spell G Ionian, B Phrygian, C Lydian, D Mixolydian, E Aeolian, and F# Locrian.
How do I practice the A Dorian mode?
Modes live and die by harmonic context — run over a static Am vamp or a drone on A, not a full progression that pulls back to the parent key. Play the G major shapes you already know, resolve every phrase to A, and lean on the natural 6th (F#). OpenFret's free Studio has a fretboard viewer and metronome for exactly this, and Guitar Quest turns scale practice into a game with real-time pitch detection.
Modes Sharing These Notes
All seven modes of G Major use the same seven notes — each one treats a different note as home.
Related Modes
Practice A Dorian with real feedback
Guitar Quest listens to your real guitar and turns scale practice into a game — run modes to battle monsters, with every note checked by pitch detection. Free in your browser, no signup needed.