stringery

F♯ dorian

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

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position1 of 5

35791215

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

Built from

  1. F♯RW
  2. G♯2H
  3. A♭3W
  4. B4W
  5. C♯5W
  6. D♯6H
  7. E♭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 neckF♯ dorian

12345EADGBE35791215♭7R2♭3456♭7R♭3456♭7R2♭346♭7R2♭3456♭72♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭345♭7R2♭3456♭7R
12345EADGBE35791215♭7R2♭3456♭7R♭3456♭7R2♭346♭7R2♭3456♭72♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭345♭7R2♭3456♭7R

Position 1 is outlined, frets 1 to 5. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The F♯ dorian key

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

  1. F♯mi
  2. G♯mii
  3. AIII
  4. BIV
  5. C♯mv
  6. D♯dimvi°
  7. EVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • E major

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

  • C♯ minor

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

  • B mixolydian

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

  • A lydian

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

  • G♯ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is G♯: dark, spanish, menacing.