C♯ Dorian mode on guitar
The C♯ Dorian mode has seven notes: C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯ and B (1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7). A minor scale with a major 6th, which keeps it from sounding sad. The sound of minor funk, soul and jazz: play it over a m7 chord or a two-chord vamp like Am7 to D.
| Note | C♯ | D♯ | E | F♯ | G♯ | A♯ | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half | whole |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the C♯ Dorian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; C♯ (C♯m) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C♯) | C♯mhome | C♯m7home |
| 2 (D♯) | D♯mcolour | D♯m7colour |
| ♭3 (E) | Edaylight | Emaj7daylight |
| 4 (F♯) | F♯the door | F♯7the door |
| 5 (G♯) | G♯msoft fall | G♯m7soft fall |
| 6 (A♯) | A♯dimthe edge | A♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭7 (B) | Bheroic | Bmaj7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the B major scale, started from its second note, C♯.
Questions
What notes are in the C♯ Dorian mode?
C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯ and B. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7, and the steps between its notes are W H W W W H W (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the C♯ Dorian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m, A♯dim and B, and as seventh chords C♯m7, D♯m7, Emaj7, F♯7, G♯m7, A♯m7♭5 and Bmaj7. C♯ is home: C♯m is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Dorian mode in every key
Other scales in C♯
D♭ majorC♯ minorC♯ minor pentatonicD♭ major pentatonicC♯ bluesD♭ MixolydianD♭ LydianC♯ PhrygianC♯ harmonic minorC♯ melodic minorD♭ Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.