Harmonizing Dorian scales into chords
The Dorian mode is often played over minor seventh chords. It can also be
harmonized into other chords, but since it is often combined with four-note
chords, these are presented here.
Four-note chords
D Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes D E F G A B C
Chords Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bø Cmaj7
Notes in chord D-F-A-C E-G-B-D F-A-C-E G-B-D-F A-C-E-G B-D-F-A C-E-G-B
C# / Db Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes D# E# F# G# A# B# C#
Chords D#m7 E#m7 F#maj7 G#7 A#m7 B#ø C#maj7
Notes in D#-F#- E#-G#- F#-A#- G#-B#- A#-C#- B#-D#- C#-E#-
chord A#-C# B#-D# C#-E# D#-F# E#-G# F#-A# G#-B#
D Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes E F# G A B C# D
Chords Em7 F#m7 Gmaj7 A7 Bm7 C#ø Dmaj7
Notes in E-G-B- F#-A-C#- G-B-D- A-C#-E- B-D-F#- C#-E-G- D-F#-A-
chord D E F# G A B C#
D# / Eb Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes F G G# A# C D D#
Chords Fm7 Gm7 G#maj7 A#7 Cm7 Dø D#maj7
Notes in F-G#-C- G-A#-D- G#-C-D#- A#-D-F- C-D#-G- D-F-G#- D#-G-A#-
chord D# F G G# A# C D
E Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes F# G# A B C# D# E
Chords F#m7 G#m7 Amaj7 B7 C#m7 D#ø Emaj7
Notes in F#-A- G#-B-D#- A-C#-E- B-D#- C#-E- D#-F#-A- E-G#-B-
chord C#-E F# G# F#-A G#-B C# D#
F Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes G A Bb C D E F
Chords Gm7 Am7 Bbmaj7 C7 Dm7 Eø Fmaj7
Notes in chord G-Bb-D-F A-C-E-G Bb-D-F-A C-E-G-Bb D-F-A-C E-G-Bb-D F-A-C-E
F# / Gb Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes G# A# B C# D# F F#
Chords G#m7 A#m7 Bmaj7 C#7 D#m7 Fø F#maj7
Notes in G#-B-D#- A#-C#-F- B-D#-F#- C#-F- D#-F#- F-G#-B- F#-A#-
chord F# G# A# G#-B A#-C# D# C#-F
G Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes A B C D E F# G
Chords Am7 Bm7 Cmaj7 D7 Em7 F#ø Gmaj7
Notes in chord A-C-E-G B-D-F#-A C-E-G-B D-F#-A-C E-G-B-D F#-A-C-E G-B-D-E
G# / Ab Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes A# B# C# D# F G G#
Chords A#m7 B#m7 C#maj7 D#7 Fm7 Gø G#maj7
Notes in A#-C#-F- B#-D#-G- C#-F-G#- D#-G- F-G#- G-A#- G#-B#-
chord G# A# B# A#-C# B#-D# C#-F D#-F
A Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes B C# D E F# G# A
Chords Bm7 C#m7 Dmaj7 E7 F#m7 G#ø Amaj7
Notes in B-D-F#- C#-E-G#- D-F#-A- E-G#-B- F#-A-C#- G#-B-D- A-C#-E-
chord A B C# D E F# F#
A# / Bb Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes C D D# F G A A#
Chords Cm7 Dm7 D#maj7 F7 Gm7 Aø A#maj7
Notes in C-D#-G- D-F-A- D#-G-A#- F-A-C- G-A#-D- A-C-D#- A#-D-F-
chord A# C D D# F G G
B Dorian Scale Four-note chords
Degrees im7 iim7 IIImaj7 IV7 vm7 viø VIImaj7
Notes C# D# E F# G# A# B
Chords C#m7 D#m7 Emaj7 F#7 G#m7 A#ø Bmaj7
Notes in C#-E- D-F#-A#- E-G#-B- F#-A#- G#-B-D#- A#-C#- B-D#-F#-
chord G#-B C# D# C#-E F# E-G# G#
Understanding the table and its symbols
The tables give plenty of information and if you didn't grasp it all please read on.
Degrees: Referring to the relations of the notes in the scale on a general basis. These have
Roman numerals, why is explained below.
Notes: Simply referring to the notes in the particular scale.
Chords: Referring to the chord with the same tonic as the note.
Notes in chord: Simply referring to the notes belonging to the chord.
Roman numerals: Roman numerals indicate chord categories. Uppercase Roman numerals
represent major chords while lowercase Roman numerals represent minor chords.
°: The degree symbol represents diminished (dim).
Ø: This symbol represents a half-diminished chord.
Notes
Dorian is especially common in jazz and often in ballads. As substitutions for the im7, iim7
and vm7, minor sixth, minor ninth and minor eleventh chords can be used.
