stringery

G♯ dorian

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

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position2 of 5

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

Built from

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

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12345EADGBE357912156♭7R2♭3456♭72♭3456♭7R2♭356♭7R2♭3456R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭346♭7R2♭3456♭7

Position 2 is outlined, frets 3 to 7. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The G♯ dorian key

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

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

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • F♯ major

    Same notes, but home is F♯: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • E♭ minor

    Same notes, but home is E♭: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • D♭ mixolydian

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

  • B lydian

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

  • B♭ phrygian

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