Notes in the C♯ Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | Tonic |
| 2 | D♯ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | E | Mediant |
| 4 | F♯ | Subdominant |
| 5 | G♯ | Dominant |
| 6 | A♯ | Submediant |
| ♭7 | B | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ B.
C♯ Dorian scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – H – W – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.
Chords in the C♯ Dorian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | C♯m | C♯m7 |
| ii | D♯m | D♯m7 |
| III | E | Emaj7 |
| IV | F♯ | F♯7 |
| v | G♯m | G♯m7 |
| vi° | A♯° | A♯ø7 |
| VII | B | Bmaj7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: B Major, which has exactly the same notes as C♯ Dorian.
How to practise the C♯ Dorian scale
Learn each mode by its characteristic note: the one that makes it different from the major or minor scale it most resembles. Play a drone on the tonic while you play the scale to hear its colour.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the C♯ Dorian scale?
The notes of the C♯ Dorian scale are C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ B.
What is the formula for the C♯ Dorian scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is W – H – W – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.
What chords are in the C♯ Dorian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m, A♯°, B.
More C♯ scales
C♯ Major, C♯ Natural Minor, C♯ Harmonic Minor, C♯ Melodic Minor, C♯ Phrygian, C♯ Mixolydian, C♯ Locrian, C♯ Major Pentatonic, C♯ Minor Pentatonic, C♯ Blues, C♯ Altered, C♯ Dorian ♭2, C♯ Mixolydian ♭6, C♯ Locrian ♯2, C♯ Phrygian Dominant, C♯ Double Harmonic, C♯ Diminished (W–H), C♯ Bebop Dominant, C♯ Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.