C# Dorian
C# Dorian scale for guitar.
The C sharp Dorian is a seven-note scale. Colored circles in the diagram mark the notes, with darker color highlighting the root notes. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 9th fret.
C# Dorian 2 octaves
C# Dorian full fretboard
C# Dorian note names
The scale displayed with its numeric formula, notes, intervals and scale degrees.
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | D# | Major second | Supertonic |
| b3 | E | Minor third | Mediant |
| 4 | F# | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | G# | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | A# | Sixth | Submediant |
| b7 | B | Minor seventh | Subtonic |
The C sharp Dorian scale consists of seven notes. These can be described as steps on the guitar fingerboard according to the following formula: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half and whole from the first note to the same in the next octave.
The C sharp Dorian is the second mode of the B Major Scale. It contains exactly the same notes, but starts on another note. Since Dorian has a Minor scale quality it can also be seen as a mode of the G# Minor.
The scale is otherwise most related to the C# Natural Minor and C# Melodic Minor scales, which differ with just one note in both cases.
This scale is typically played over a minor seventh chord (primarily C#m7 in this case) and is used in styles such as jazz and blues. It is sometimes called C sharp Jazz Minor (it shouldn't be confused with the Melodic Minor, which also is reckoned as a minor jazz scale).
One way to learn this scale is to observe the minor 7th chord shapes that it is built around. For example, the C#m7 barre chord with the root on the 6th string within the scale in 9th position. Another way is to think of it as the C# Minor scale with a raised sixth.
Chords that are related to this scale are the following:
| C#m7, C#m9, C#m11 |
| D#m7 |
| Emaj7, Emaj9 |
| F#7, F#9, F#11, F#13 |
| G#m7, G#m9, G#m11 |
| A#m7b5 |
| Bmaj7, Bmaj9, Bmaj13 |
The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the C# Dorian scale (triads have been excluded).
Related to this scale are Dorian b2 and Dorian #4, being the 2nd mode of the Melodic Minor and the 4th mode of the Harmonic Minor.
The C# Dorian b2 scale, also known as C# Phrygian #6 scale, is identical with the C# Dorian except for the minor second. It can be displayed as follows:
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | Unison | Tonic |
| b2 | D | Minor second | Supertonic |
| b3 | E | Minor third | Mediant |
| 4 | F# | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | G# | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | A# | Sixth | Submediant |
| b7 | B | Minor seventh | Subtonic |
The C# Dorian b2 contains the same notes as the B Melodic Minor Scale, but starts on another note.
The C# Dorian #4 scale is identical with the C# Dorian except for the augmented fourth. It can be displayed as follows:
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | D# | Major second | Supertonic |
| b3 | E | Minor third | Mediant |
| #4 | F## | Augmented fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | G# | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | A# | Sixth | Submediant |
| b7 | B | Minor seventh | Subtonic |
The C# Dorian #4 contains the same notes as the G# Harmonic Minor Scale, but starts on another note.
Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.
Normal tempo: