E Dorian Scale on Guitar — 2 Shapes to Play the Whole Neck
E Dorian is one of the seven modes of the major scale — on guitar its notes are E F# G A B C# D, built from the formula 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7. Computed live for this exact root and scale, Fretprism finds 2 repeating shapes — the small pattern set you actually need to play it across the whole neck.
E Dorian Scale Notes
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | 1 |
| 2 | F# | 2 |
| 3 | G | b3 |
| 4 | A | 4 |
| 5 | B | 5 |
| 6 | C# | 6 |
| 7 | D | b7 |
E Dorian Formula
Degree formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Whole – Half – Whole – Whole – Whole – Half – Whole
E Dorian on the Guitar Fretboard
The notes of Dorian repeat across the guitar fretboard in connected positions. Use the shape below to identify root notes, scale degrees, and neighboring shapes.
- Frets 0–5 (span 5 frets)
- Lowest note G, highest note F#
- 2 E root notes, on the D string (fret 2), E string (fret 0)
How to practice this shape
- Start on the root — E at fret 2 on the D string. Play up to the highest note in the shape, then back down, staying inside frets 0–5.
- Your hand shifts 2 times as you cross strings: E→A (-1), D→G (-2). Those crossings — not the notes — are what this position is really asking you to learn.
- Once it feels automatic, move on to the next of the 2 shapes — together they cover the whole neck, and the same pattern repeats from there.
What Gives E Dorian Its Sound?
The characteristic sound of E Dorian comes from its minor 3rd and major 6th.
Diatonic chords
These are the 7 chords built from E Dorian's own notes — the ones that will sound like they belong when you're writing a progression, backing a melody, or jamming in this key. The Roman numeral shows each chord's role in the key: capital for major, lowercase for minor, ° for diminished, + for augmented. Not every scale produces a clean chord on every degree — where that happens, we show it honestly instead of forcing a name that doesn't fit.
E Dorian Scale Relationships
- Parent scale: D Major (Ionian)
E Dorian vs E Natural Minor (Aeolian)
E Dorian and E Natural Minor (Aeolian) differ on 1 degree: the 6th (6 vs b6).
E Dorian FAQ
E Dorian contains the notes E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D.
E Dorian is a mode of D Major (Ionian).
E Dorian has a flatted 3rd degree, giving it a minor character. It's derived from D Major (Ionian).
The diatonic chords in E Dorian are Em, F#m, G, A, Bm, C#dim, D.