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Scale · 7 notes

C♯ Dorian ♭2 Scale

C♯ Dorian ♭2 is a 7-note scale with the notes C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A♯ B. It sounds the second mode of melodic minor: Dorian with a flat 2nd, dark and exotic, used over sus♭9 chords.

DEBC♯F♯G♯A♯

Purple = C♯ (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every C♯ dorian ♭2 note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEF♯A♯BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯BDEF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEG♯A♯BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEF♯

Blue = C♯ (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the C♯ Dorian ♭2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1C♯Tonic
♭2DSupertonic
♭3EMediant
4F♯Subdominant
5G♯Dominant
6A♯Submediant
♭7BSubtonic

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 ♭2 scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W – 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 ♭2 scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
iC♯mC♯m7
II+D+D7♯5
IIIEE7
IVF♯F♯7
v°G♯°G♯ø7
vi°A♯°A♯ø7
viiBmBm(maj7)

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the C♯ Dorian ♭2 scale

Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the C♯ Dorian ♭2 scale?

The notes of the C♯ Dorian ♭2 scale are C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A♯ B.

What is the formula for the C♯ Dorian ♭2 scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W – 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 ♭2 scale?

Built from the scale in triads: C♯m, D+, E, F♯, G♯°, A♯°, Bm.

More C♯ scales

C♯ Major, C♯ Natural Minor, C♯ Harmonic Minor, C♯ Melodic Minor, C♯ Dorian, C♯ Phrygian, C♯ Mixolydian, C♯ Locrian, C♯ Major Pentatonic, C♯ Minor Pentatonic, C♯ Blues, C♯ Altered, 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.