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Piano scale

C♯ Dorian Mode

The C♯ Dorian Mode has 7 notes: C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B.

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

Notes of the C♯ Dorian Mode

DegreeNotesIntervalsFormula
1C♯Root1
2D♯Major 2nd2
3EMinor 3rd♭3
4F♯Perfect 4th4
5G♯Perfect 5th5
6A♯Major 6th6
7BMinor 7th♭7

Step pattern

W – H – W – W – W – H – W

From the root to the octave the scale moves in this pattern: W – H – W – W – W – H – W.

W = whole step (2 semitones), H = half step (1 semitone), W+H = 3 semitones

Sound and character

Minor with a raised 6th — brighter and more hopeful than natural minor, but still grounded. The scale of jazz improvisation and Celtic folk.

Sound: Cool & modal

Chords in the C♯ Dorian Mode

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree to get its chords.

How to use it

Play it over a minor 7th chord when you want a brighter minor colour — the natural 6th is the note that gives Dorian its character.

C♯ Dorian Mode uses the same notes as the B Major scale, starting from a different note.

Songs that use it

  • So What · Miles Davis
    Jazz
  • Oye Como Va · Santana
    Latin Rock
  • Scarborough Fair · Simon & Garfunkel
    Folk

Play the C♯ Dorian Mode with different sounds in the interactive builder.

Open in the chord builder

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