G Dorian Scale on Piano

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

It shares its key signature with Bb 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 (Bb) sits in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid it. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto C; 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 G Dorian

Note	Interval	RH Finger	LH Finger
GG4	Root (1)	1	5
AA4	Major 2nd (2)	2	4
BbBb4	Minor 3rd (b3)	3	3
CC5	Perfect 4th (4)	1	2
DD5	Perfect 5th (5)	2	1
EE5	Major 6th (6)	3	3
FF5	Minor 7th (b7)	4	2
GG5	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# – B – C# – D# – E# – F#

A – B – C – D – E – F# – G

Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab

B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A

Other G Scales

G – A – B – C – D – E – F#

G Natural Minor

G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F

G Harmonic Minor

G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F#

G Melodic Minor

G – A – Bb – C – D – E – F#

G Major Pentatonic

G – A – B – D – E

G Minor Pentatonic

G – Bb – C – D – F

G – Bb – C – Db – D – F

G – A – B – C – D – E – F

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