Pentatonic Minor and Dorian comparison
The Pentatonic Minor scale compared to the Dorian mode with diagrams and explanation.
The Minor Pentatonic is a five-note scale while the Dorian mode is a seven-note scale. But besides that, the similarities are obvious: Dorian contains all the notes in the Pentatonic scale plus two additional notes (as seen in the comparing tables below).
A Minor Pentatonic scale degrees and notes.
| 1 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | C | D | E | G |
A Dorian scale degrees and notes.
| 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | D | E | F# | G |
Notes of the Pentatonic Minor and the Dorian mode in all keys.
| Scale | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Pentatonic | C | – | Eb | F | G | – | Bb |
| C Dorian | C | D | Eb | F | G | A | Bb |
| C# Pentatonic | C# | – | E | F# | G# | – | B |
| C# Dorian | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A# | B |
| D Pentatonic | D | – | F | G | A | – | C |
| D Dorian | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| Eb Pentatonic | Eb | – | Gb | Ab | Bb | – | Db |
| Eb Dorian | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | C | Db |
| E Pentatonic | E | – | G | A | B | – | D |
| E Dorian | E | F# | G | A | B | C# | D |
| F Pentatonic | F | – | Ab | Bb | C | – | Eb |
| F Dorian | F | G | Ab | Bb | C | D | Eb |
| F# Pentatonic | F# | – | A | B | C# | – | E |
| F# Dorian | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D# | E |
| G Pentatonic | G | – | Bb | C | D | – | F |
| G Dorian | G | A | Bb | C | D | E | F |
| Ab Pentatonic | Ab | – | Cb | Db | Eb | – | Gb |
| Ab Dorian | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | F | Gb |
| A Pentatonic | A | – | C | D | E | – | G |
| A Dorian | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G |
| Bb Pentatonic | Bb | – | Db | Eb | F | – | Ab |
| Bb Dorian | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | G | Ab |
| B Pentatonic | B | – | D | E | F# | – | A |
| B Dorian | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# | A |
Notice that C# is the same as Db, D# is the same as Eb and so on.
Scale diagrams
The scale diagrams show A Minor Pentatonic and A Dorian in two octaves (shape 1 in 5th position), with the root notes in darker color.
A Minor Pentatonic
A Dorian
Graphic comparison
The scale diagram shows Minor Pentatonic and Dorian mode merged (the extra Dorian notes in light green).
Backing track
Since the Minor Pentatonic and the Dorian are analogues in several aspects, you can blend these scales in solo playing. The main concept when doing this is to "think Pentatonic" and sporadically add one or both the Dorian notes. Only adding one of the Dorian notes (B or F# in this case), will sometimes sound best, but it depends on how much "Dorian flavor" you want your in Minor Pentatonic sound. Experiment by playing over the track below.
Jam Track in A minor
Tempo (95 BPM)