E Dorian Charango Scale
Charango scale — fretboard diagram
E Dorian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Dorian scale is the second mode of the major scale, offering a soulful and sophisticated minor sound. On Charango, it contains the notes E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D. Because it features a major sixth, it sounds brighter and more hopeful than the natural minor. It is the go-to scale for jazz, funk, and modal blues. The diatonic chords of E Dorian are Em7, F#m7, GMaj7, A7, Bm7, C#m7b5, DMaj7. Commonly used in Funk, Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, Blues. Notable players include Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, D'Angelo. Use over m7, m9, m11, m13 chords. The go-to scale for any minor chord in funk, jazz, and soul. Works especially well over long minor vamps.
Notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
Em7 — F♯m7 — GMaj7 — A7 — Bm7 — C♯m7♭5 — DMaj7
How to Play E Dorian on Charango
Begin by locating E on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Dorian scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The E Dorian scale contains 2 sharps (F#, C#). Its relative major is G major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the E Dorian scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (E-G, F#-A) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Try these progressions with the E Dorian scale: Em7 - A7 - Bm7 - Em7 (I-IV-V-I) or Em7 - F#m7 - A7 - Bm7 for a more stepwise movement.
Charango Tips
Practice the E Dorian scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed.
The E Dorian scale contains 7 notes (E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Charango with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Dorian
The E Dorian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.