stringery

C♯ dorian

Minor with a brighter 6th: funk, jazz and Santana. Minor 7 family

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position4 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. C♯RW
  2. D♯2H
  3. E♭3W
  4. F♯4W
  5. G♯5W
  6. A♯6H
  7. B♭7W

It is natural minor with the 6th raised one fret, which takes the sadness out and leaves the cool.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckC♯ dorian

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12345EADGBE35791215♭3456♭7R2♭346♭7R2♭3456♭72♭3456♭7R2♭356♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R♭3456♭7R2♭34

Position 4 is outlined, frets 8 to 12. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The C♯ dorian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. C♯mi
  2. D♯mii
  3. EIII
  4. F♯IV
  5. G♯mv
  6. A♯dimvi°
  7. BVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • B major

    Same notes, but home is B: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • G♯ minor

    Same notes, but home is G♯: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • F♯ mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is F♯: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • E lydian

    Same notes, but home is E: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • E♭ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is E♭: dark, spanish, menacing.