A Dorian Scale on Piano

The A Dorian scale sounds cool and open. It runs A – B – C – D – E – F# – G and is written with one sharp.

It shares its key signature with C major, its relative major.

Interval Circle

All twelve semitones, root at the top. Filled dots are the notes of the scale, the outer numbers are their degrees, and W / H mark the whole and half steps between them.

About This Scale

A minor scale with a raised 6th, which lifts it out of the gloom of natural minor without turning it major. Modal jazz, funk and a great deal of English folk song live here.

Fingering

Right Hand (ascending)

1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5

Left Hand (ascending)

5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1

Why this fingering

One black key (F#) sits in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid it. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto D; let the elbow drift slightly outward as it passes rather than twisting the wrist.

The blue dots on the piano below show which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Notes in A Dorian

Note	Interval	RH Finger	LH Finger
AA4	Root (1)	1	5
BB4	Major 2nd (2)	2	4
CC5	Minor 3rd (b3)	3	3
DD5	Perfect 4th (4)	1	2
EE5	Perfect 5th (5)	2	1
F#F#5	Major 6th (6)	3	3
GG5	Minor 7th (b7)	4	2
AA5	Octave (8)	5	1

Other Dorian Scales

C – D – Eb – F – G – A – Bb

C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B

D – E – F – G – A – B – C

Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C – Db

E – F# – G – A – B – C# – D

F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D – Eb

F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E

G – A – Bb – C – D – E – F

G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E# – F#

Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab

B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A

Other A Scales

A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G#

A Natural Minor

A – B – C – D – E – F – G

A Harmonic Minor

A – B – C – D – E – F – G#

A Melodic Minor

A – B – C – D – E – F# – G#

A Major Pentatonic

A – B – C# – E – F#

A Minor Pentatonic

A – C – D – E – G

A – C – D – Eb – E – G

A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G

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