The A Dorian is the 2nd mode of the A Major scale. It has a minor but hopeful, jazzy, soulful, funky character. On guitar it appears at Position 2 in the fretboard pattern — root note A.
Notes in the A Dorian
A
B
C
D
E
F#
G
A · B · C · D · E · F# · G
Step Formula
W = Whole step (2 frets) · H = Half step (1 fret)
W H W W W H W
Intervals
1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7
Sound CharacterMinor but hopeful, jazzy, soulful, funky
Parent Major ScaleA Major — A Dorian shares the same notes as A Major but starts on A
Best Used InJazz, Blues, Funk, Rock, Fusion
Famous ExamplesSo What (Miles Davis), Oye Como Va (Santana), Smoke on the Water
Key insight: The natural 6th is what separates Dorian from natural minor. That one note creates the warm, jazzy quality.
The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond A Dorian
The A Dorian is one of 7 diatonic modes in the Dead Sea Scales system. Using the 5 Missing Notes™ framework, each mode generates 7 extended variations — giving you access to all 42 total modes in any key including A.
Same Mode, Every Key
The Dorian pattern is identical in every key — the formula never changes. Explore the same mode in other keys:
Home: A Dorian is minor territory — Aeolian with a natural 6. Start here. Address: 2nd mode of G Ionian — the 5 Missing Notes are read from G, not A. Home vs Address →