Interactive piano keyboard showing A Dorian scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
A dorian (A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G) has one sharp in its key signature and its major 6th (F♯) is the defining note that separates it from A minor. It is a staple of Irish and Celtic traditional music, and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" uses A dorian. Guitarists love A dorian for its open-string-friendly positions.
Dorian differs from natural minor by its major 6th — a single interval that transforms dark melancholy into hopeful brightness. This is why Dorian feels like “minor with optimism,” the go-to mode for jazz, funk, and soul grooves.
The seven diatonic modes — parallel modes starting from the same root with different interval patterns. Each mode has a unique character derived from the major scale.
The diatonic chords in A Dorian are: Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F#dim, G. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Dorian?
A dorian (A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G) has one sharp in its key signature and its major 6th (F♯) is the defining note that separates it from A minor. It is a staple of Irish and Celtic traditional music, and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" uses A dorian. Guitarists love A dorian for its open-string-friendly positions.
What notes are in the A Dorian?
The A Dorian contains the notes: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G. This is a 7-note scale starting from A.
How many chords does the A Dorian have?
The A Dorian produces 7 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F#dim, G.
What is the formula for the Dorian?
The Dorian follows the interval formula: W-H-W-W-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
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Position in circle of fifths
A is at the 3 o'clock position. Related keys: E (dominant), D (subdominant), F# (relative minor), B (supertonic), G (subtonic).