G♯ Dorian mode on guitar
The G♯ Dorian mode has seven notes: G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯ and F♯ (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 | G♯ | A♯ | B | C♯ | D♯ | E♯ | F♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 G♯ Dorian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; G♯ (G♯m) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (G♯) | G♯mhome | G♯m7home |
| 2 (A♯) | A♯mcolour | A♯m7colour |
| ♭3 (B) | Bdaylight | Bmaj7daylight |
| 4 (C♯) | C♯the door | C♯7the door |
| 5 (D♯) | D♯msoft fall | D♯m7soft fall |
| 6 (E♯) | E♯dimthe edge | E♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭7 (F♯) | F♯heroic | F♯maj7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the F♯ major scale, started from its second note, G♯.
Questions
What notes are in the G♯ Dorian mode?
G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯ and F♯. 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 G♯ Dorian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: G♯m, A♯m, B, C♯, D♯m, E♯dim and F♯, and as seventh chords G♯m7, A♯m7, Bmaj7, C♯7, D♯m7, E♯m7♭5 and F♯maj7. G♯ is home: G♯m is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Dorian mode in every key
Other scales in G♯
A♭ majorG♯ minorG♯ minor pentatonicA♭ major pentatonicG♯ bluesA♭ MixolydianA♭ LydianG♯ PhrygianG♯ harmonic minorG♯ melodic minorA♭ 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.