D Dorian scale on tenor sax
D Dorian has 7 notes: D E F G A B C. Degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7. Formula: W H W W W H W.
What notes are in the D Dorian scale?
D, E, F, G, A, B and C. It has 7 notes; its formula in whole and half steps is W H W W W H W.
What does D Dorian sound like, and when do you use it?
Minor with light: the major 6th gives it the air of soul, funk and modal jazz. Use it over m7 · the ii of a major key, and minor vamps.
To hear it: So What — Miles Davis (D Dorian) and Oye cómo va — Tito Puente / Santana.
Chords in D Dorian
| Degree | Triad | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Dm | Dm7 |
| ii | Em | Em7 |
| ♭III | F | Fmaj7 |
| IV | G | G7 |
| v | Am | Am7 |
| vi° | B° | Bm7♭5 |
| ♭VII | C | Cmaj7 |
Chord progressions to improvise with D Dorian
In Jam mode (the Jam button above) a band of grand piano, upright bass and drums (recorded instruments) plays these progressions as swing, bossa, groove or ballad, and the staff lights up the notes of each chord as it plays. It's a backing track made for this scale in D:
- Dorian vamp (i7–IV7): Dm7 | G7. The “Oye cómo va” vamp: the IV7 has the major 6th (B), the note that makes Dorian sound Dorian.
- Modal (i7): a Dm7 vamp. A single chord, like in “So What”, voiced in fourths. Explore the whole scale, no rush.
- i–ii (i7–ii7): Dm7 | Em7. The scale split into two chords: the second brings the E, the G and the B.
D Dorian on tenor sax: written notes and fingerings
The tenor sax is a B♭ instrument: written D Dorian sounds C Dorian in concert pitch. Fingering for each note, from low to high (left hand | right hand):
- D: 123 | 123
- E: 123 | 12
- F: 123 | 1
- G: 123 | –
- A: 12 | –
- B: 1 | –
- C: 2 | –
- D: 123 | 123 + octave key
Same notes as
C major · A natural minor · C Ionian · E Phrygian · F Lydian · G Mixolydian · A Aeolian · B Locrian
Dorian in other keys
On other instruments
D Dorian on piano · D Dorian on guitar · D Dorian on bass · D Dorian on ukulele · D Dorian on mandolin · D Dorian on banjo · D Dorian on violin · D Dorian on viola · D Dorian on cello · D Dorian on alto sax · D Dorian on trumpet · D Dorian on flute · All scales