C Dorian Scale Charts
Explore C Dorian across the full guitar fretboard and 7 connected positions. Notes: C, D, D#, F, G, A, A#. Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7.
C Dorian full fretboard chart
C Dorian uses C, D, D#, F, G, A, A# across frets 0-15.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 4F | 5G | 6A | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | |||||||
| 2B | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | 6A | b7A# | RC | 2D | |||||||
| 3G | 5G | 6A | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | 6A | b7A# | ||||||
| 4D | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | 6A | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||||||
| 5A | 6A | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | 6A | b7A# | RC | ||||||
| 6E | 4F | 5G | 6A | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (4), G4 at fret 3 (5), A4 at fret 5 (6), A#4 at fret 6 (b7), C5 at fret 8 (root), D5 at fret 10 (2), D#5 at fret 11 (b3), F5 at fret 13 (4), G5 at fret 15 (5).
String 2: C4 at fret 1 (root), D4 at fret 3 (2), D#4 at fret 4 (b3), F4 at fret 6 (4), G4 at fret 8 (5), A4 at fret 10 (6), A#4 at fret 11 (b7), C5 at fret 13 (root), D5 at fret 15 (2).
String 3: G3 at fret 0 (5), A3 at fret 2 (6), A#3 at fret 3 (b7), C4 at fret 5 (root), D4 at fret 7 (2), D#4 at fret 8 (b3), F4 at fret 10 (4), G4 at fret 12 (5), A4 at fret 14 (6), A#4 at fret 15 (b7).
String 4: D3 at fret 0 (2), D#3 at fret 1 (b3), F3 at fret 3 (4), G3 at fret 5 (5), A3 at fret 7 (6), A#3 at fret 8 (b7), C4 at fret 10 (root), D4 at fret 12 (2), D#4 at fret 13 (b3), F4 at fret 15 (4).
String 5: A2 at fret 0 (6), A#2 at fret 1 (b7), C3 at fret 3 (root), D3 at fret 5 (2), D#3 at fret 6 (b3), F3 at fret 8 (4), G3 at fret 10 (5), A3 at fret 12 (6), A#3 at fret 13 (b7), C4 at fret 15 (root).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (4), G2 at fret 3 (5), A2 at fret 5 (6), A#2 at fret 6 (b7), C3 at fret 8 (root), D3 at fret 10 (2), D#3 at fret 11 (b3), F3 at fret 13 (4), G3 at fret 15 (5).
C Dorian Position 1 chart
Position 1 covers frets 8-12 for C Dorian.
| String | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 2B | 6A | b7A# | |||
| 3G | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 4D | b7A# | RC | 2D | ||
| 5A | 4F | 5G | 6A | ||
| 6E | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
String 1: C5 at fret 8 (root), D5 at fret 10 (2), D#5 at fret 11 (b3).
String 2: A4 at fret 10 (6), A#4 at fret 11 (b7).
String 3: D#4 at fret 8 (b3), F4 at fret 10 (4), G4 at fret 12 (5).
String 4: A#3 at fret 8 (b7), C4 at fret 10 (root), D4 at fret 12 (2).
String 5: F3 at fret 8 (4), G3 at fret 10 (5), A3 at fret 12 (6).
String 6: C3 at fret 8 (root), D3 at fret 10 (2), D#3 at fret 11 (b3).
C Dorian Position 2 chart
Position 2 covers frets 6-10 for C Dorian.
| String | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b7A# | RC | 2D | ||
| 2B | 5G | 6A | |||
| 3G | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 4D | 6A | b7A# | RC | ||
| 5A | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 6E | b7A# | RC | 2D | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
String 1: A#4 at fret 6 (b7), C5 at fret 8 (root), D5 at fret 10 (2).
String 2: G4 at fret 8 (5), A4 at fret 10 (6).
String 3: D4 at fret 7 (2), D#4 at fret 8 (b3), F4 at fret 10 (4).
String 4: A3 at fret 7 (6), A#3 at fret 8 (b7), C4 at fret 10 (root).
String 5: D#3 at fret 6 (b3), F3 at fret 8 (4), G3 at fret 10 (5).
String 6: A#2 at fret 6 (b7), C3 at fret 8 (root), D3 at fret 10 (2).
C Dorian Position 3 chart
Position 3 covers frets 4-8 for C Dorian.
| String | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 6A | b7A# | RC | ||
| 2B | 4F | 5G | |||
| 3G | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 4D | 5G | 6A | b7A# | ||
| 5A | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 6E | 6A | b7A# | RC | ||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
String 1: A4 at fret 5 (6), A#4 at fret 6 (b7), C5 at fret 8 (root).
String 2: F4 at fret 6 (4), G4 at fret 8 (5).
String 3: C4 at fret 5 (root), D4 at fret 7 (2), D#4 at fret 8 (b3).
String 4: G3 at fret 5 (5), A3 at fret 7 (6), A#3 at fret 8 (b7).
String 5: D3 at fret 5 (2), D#3 at fret 6 (b3), F3 at fret 8 (4).
String 6: A2 at fret 5 (6), A#2 at fret 6 (b7), C3 at fret 8 (root).
C Dorian Position 4 chart
Position 4 covers frets 3-7 for C Dorian.
| String | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 5G | 6A | b7A# | ||
| 2B | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 3G | b7A# | RC | |||
| 4D | 4F | 5G | 6A | ||
| 5A | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 6E | 5G | 6A | b7A# | ||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
String 1: G4 at fret 3 (5), A4 at fret 5 (6), A#4 at fret 6 (b7).
String 2: D4 at fret 3 (2), D#4 at fret 4 (b3), F4 at fret 6 (4).
String 3: A#3 at fret 3 (b7), C4 at fret 5 (root).
String 4: F3 at fret 3 (4), G3 at fret 5 (5), A3 at fret 7 (6).
String 5: C3 at fret 3 (root), D3 at fret 5 (2), D#3 at fret 6 (b3).
String 6: G2 at fret 3 (5), A2 at fret 5 (6), A#2 at fret 6 (b7).
C Dorian Position 5 chart
Position 5 covers frets 1-5 for C Dorian.
| String | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 4F | 5G | 6A | ||
| 2B | 2D | b3D# | |||
| 3G | 6A | b7A# | RC | ||
| 4D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 5A | b7A# | RC | 2D | ||
| 6E | 4F | 5G | 6A | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (4), G4 at fret 3 (5), A4 at fret 5 (6).
String 2: D4 at fret 3 (2), D#4 at fret 4 (b3).
String 3: A3 at fret 2 (6), A#3 at fret 3 (b7), C4 at fret 5 (root).
String 4: D#3 at fret 1 (b3), F3 at fret 3 (4), G3 at fret 5 (5).
String 5: A#2 at fret 1 (b7), C3 at fret 3 (root), D3 at fret 5 (2).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (4), G2 at fret 3 (5), A2 at fret 5 (6).
C Dorian Position 6 chart
Position 6 covers frets 11-15 for C Dorian.
| String | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 2B | RC | 2D | |||
| 3G | 5G | 6A | b7A# | ||
| 4D | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 5A | 6A | b7A# | RC | ||
| 6E | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: D#5 at fret 11 (b3), F5 at fret 13 (4), G5 at fret 15 (5).
String 2: C5 at fret 13 (root), D5 at fret 15 (2).
String 3: G4 at fret 12 (5), A4 at fret 14 (6), A#4 at fret 15 (b7).
String 4: D4 at fret 12 (2), D#4 at fret 13 (b3), F4 at fret 15 (4).
String 5: A3 at fret 12 (6), A#3 at fret 13 (b7), C4 at fret 15 (root).
String 6: D#3 at fret 11 (b3), F3 at fret 13 (4), G3 at fret 15 (5).
C Dorian Position 7 chart
Position 7 covers frets 10-14 for C Dorian.
| String | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 2B | 6A | b7A# | RC | ||
| 3G | 4F | 5G | |||
| 4D | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 5A | 5G | 6A | b7A# | ||
| 6E | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
String 1: D5 at fret 10 (2), D#5 at fret 11 (b3), F5 at fret 13 (4).
String 2: A4 at fret 10 (6), A#4 at fret 11 (b7), C5 at fret 13 (root).
String 3: F4 at fret 10 (4), G4 at fret 12 (5).
String 4: C4 at fret 10 (root), D4 at fret 12 (2), D#4 at fret 13 (b3).
String 5: G3 at fret 10 (5), A3 at fret 12 (6), A#3 at fret 13 (b7).
String 6: D3 at fret 10 (2), D#3 at fret 11 (b3), F3 at fret 13 (4).
Dorian scale essentials
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · b7
- Characteristic tones
- 6
Practice the C Dorian sound
- Say and play the scale: Play C → D → D# → F → G → A → A# → C up and back down, naming the degrees 1 → 2 → b3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → b7 → 1 as you go.
- Hear its defining tones: pause on A (6) before landing on C. Listen for how those characteristic tones color the phrase.
- Connect the positions: Work through all 7 position charts. Start in Position 1 (frets 8–12), then repeat a short phrase from the root in each shape. Use the full fretboard chart to find the next C as you move between positions.
Continue with this scale
Take Dorian into the matching course and practice resources.