F# Dorian
F# Dorian scale for guitar.
The F 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, 2nd fret.
F# Dorian 2 octaves
F# Dorian full fretboard
F# Dorian note names
The scale displayed with its numeric formula, notes, intervals and scale degrees.
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F# | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | G# | Major second | Supertonic |
| b3 | A | Minor third | Mediant |
| 4 | B | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | C# | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | D# | Sixth | Submediant |
| b7 | E | Minor seventh | Subtonic |
The F 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 F sharp Dorian is the second mode of the E 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 C# Minor.
The F sharp Dorian can also be recognized as an F# Major Scale with a flattened third and a flattened seventh (A and E instead of A# and E#).
The scale is otherwise most related to the F# Natural Minor and F# Melodic Minor scales, which differ with just one note in both cases.
This scale is typically played over a minor seventh chord (primarily F#m7 in this case) and is used in styles such as jazz and blues. It is sometimes called F 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 F#m7 barre chord with the root on the 6th string within the scale in 2nd position. Another way is to think of it as the F# Minor scale with a raised sixth.
Chords that are related to this scale are the following:
| F#m7, F#m9, F#m11 |
| G#m7 |
| Amaj7, Amaj9 |
| B7, B9, B11, B13 |
| C#m7, C#m9, C#m11 |
| D#m7b5 |
| Emaj7, Emaj9, Emaj13 |
The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the F# 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 F# Dorian b2 scale, also known as F# Phrygian #6 scale, is identical with the F# Dorian except for the minor second. It can be displayed as follows:
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F# | Unison | Tonic |
| b2 | G | Minor second | Supertonic |
| b3 | A | Minor third | Mediant |
| 4 | B | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | C# | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | D# | Sixth | Submediant |
| b7 | E | Minor seventh | Subtonic |
The F# Dorian b2 contains the same notes as the E Melodic Minor Scale, but starts on another note.
The F# Dorian #4 scale is identical with the F# Dorian except for the augmented fourth. It can be displayed as follows:
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F# | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | G# | Major second | Supertonic |
| b3 | A | Minor third | Mediant |
| #4 | B# | Augmented fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | C# | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | D# | Sixth | Submediant |
| b7 | E | Minor seventh | Subtonic |
The F# Dorian #4 contains the same notes as the C# Harmonic Minor Scale, but starts on another note.
Start the audio and play along with your guitar! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.
Normal tempo: