F♯ Dorian mode on guitar
The F♯ Dorian mode has seven notes: F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯ and E (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 | F♯ | G♯ | A | B | C♯ | D♯ | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 F♯ Dorian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; F♯ (F♯m) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (F♯) | F♯mhome | F♯m7home |
| 2 (G♯) | G♯mcolour | G♯m7colour |
| ♭3 (A) | Adaylight | Amaj7daylight |
| 4 (B) | Bthe door | B7the door |
| 5 (C♯) | C♯msoft fall | C♯m7soft fall |
| 6 (D♯) | D♯dimthe edge | D♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭7 (E) | Eheroic | Emaj7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the E major scale, started from its second note, F♯.
Questions
What notes are in the F♯ Dorian mode?
F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯ and E. 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 F♯ Dorian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: F♯m, G♯m, A, B, C♯m, D♯dim and E, and as seventh chords F♯m7, G♯m7, Amaj7, B7, C♯m7, D♯m7♭5 and Emaj7. F♯ is home: F♯m is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Dorian mode in every key
Other scales in F♯
F♯ majorF♯ minorF♯ minor pentatonicF♯ major pentatonicF♯ bluesF♯ MixolydianF♯ LydianF♯ PhrygianF♯ harmonic minorF♯ melodic minorF♯ 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.