Notes in the D♯ Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♯ | Tonic |
| 2 | E♯ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | F♯ | Mediant |
| 4 | G♯ | Subdominant |
| 5 | A♯ | Dominant |
| 6 | B♯ | Submediant |
| ♭7 | C♯ | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯.
D♯ 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 D♯ Dorian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | D♯m | D♯m7 |
| ii | E♯m | E♯m7 |
| III | F♯ | F♯maj7 |
| IV | G♯ | G♯7 |
| v | A♯m | A♯m7 |
| vi° | B♯° | B♯ø7 |
| VII | C♯ | C♯maj7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: C♯ Major, which has exactly the same notes as D♯ Dorian.
How to practise the D♯ 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 D♯ Dorian scale?
The notes of the D♯ Dorian scale are D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯.
What is the formula for the D♯ 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 D♯ Dorian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: D♯m, E♯m, F♯, G♯, A♯m, B♯°, C♯.
More D♯ scales
D♯ Natural Minor, D♯ Phrygian, D♯ Locrian, D♯ Minor Pentatonic, D♯ Blues, D♯ Altered, D♯ Dorian ♭2, D♯ Locrian ♯2
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.