Dorian scale · 7 notes
C♯ Dorian scale on guitar
The C♯ Dorian scale (C sharp Dorian scale) has 7 notes: C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯ and B. A minor scale with a bright natural 6th: the sound of funk, jazz-rock and Santana.
Notes
- C♯
- D♯
- E
- F♯
- G♯
- A♯
- B
Formula
1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7
Steps
W – H – W – W – W – H – W
Sound
Minor but hopeful, cool and funky
C♯ Dorian on the whole fretboard
Every C♯ Dorian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, C♯, is shown in red so you can always find home.
A shape to learn first
You don’t need the whole neck at once. This hand position is anchored on a root note on the 6th (low E) string, which is how most guitarists find a scale in any key.
Root on the 6th (low E) string
C♯ at fret 9. 8th position: frets 8–12.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of C♯ Dorian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from C♯, the C♯ Dorian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 5 sharps (C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯). Compared with C♯ minor, it has A♯ (6) instead of A.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | root | 0 |
| 2 | D♯ | major 2nd | 2 |
| ♭3 | E | minor 3rd | 3 |
| 4 | F♯ | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | G♯ | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | A♯ | major 6th | 9 |
| ♭7 | B | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in C♯ Dorian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to C♯ Dorian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in C♯ Dorian.
- iC♯mC♯ · E · G♯C♯m7
- iiD♯mD♯ · F♯ · A♯D♯m7
- ♭IIIEE · G♯ · BEmaj7
- IVF♯F♯ · A♯ · C♯F♯7
- vG♯mG♯ · B · D♯G♯m7
- vi°A♯°A♯ · C♯ · EA♯m7♭5
- ♭VIIBB · D♯ · F♯Bmaj7
Progressions to try
- C♯m – F♯ i–IV · the classic Dorian vamp
- C♯m – D♯m i–ii
- C♯m – B – F♯ i–♭VII–IV
How to use C♯ Dorian
Reach for it over minor 7th chords, one- or two-chord minor vamps (i–IV), funk, jazz, and Santana-style rock. Its sound is minor but hopeful, cool and funky.
Tip: Dorian is the natural minor with a raised 6th. Over a minor vamp, aim for that 6th: it is the note that makes Dorian sound like Dorian.
- C♯ Dorian contains exactly the notes of B major, played from its second note, C♯. See B major.
Where to find C♯ on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every C♯ between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with C♯ |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 9 |
| B (2nd) | 2 |
| G (3rd) | 6 |
| D (4th) | 11 |
| A (5th) | 4 |
| Low E (6th) | 9 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as C♯ Dorian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
C♯ Dorian scale FAQ
What notes are in the C♯ Dorian scale?
The C♯ Dorian scale has 7 notes: C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯ and B. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7. It contains 5 sharps (C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯).
What chords are in C♯ Dorian?
Harmonising the C♯ Dorian scale in thirds gives C♯m (i), D♯m (ii), E (♭III), F♯ (IV), G♯m (v), A♯° (vi°) and B (♭VII).
Where do you play the C♯ Dorian scale on guitar?
The root, C♯, is at fret 9 on the low E string and fret 4 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 8–12, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as C♯ Dorian?
C♯ Dorian contains exactly the notes of B major, played from its second note, C♯.