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Scale · 7 notes

D♯ Dorian ♭2 Scale

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

B♯EC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EG♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯

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

Notes in the D♯ Dorian ♭2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1D♯Tonic
♭2ESupertonic
♭3F♯Mediant
4G♯Subdominant
5A♯Dominant
6B♯Submediant
♭7C♯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 ♭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 D♯ Dorian ♭2 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
iD♯mD♯m7
II+E+E7♯5
IIIF♯F♯7
IVG♯G♯7
v°A♯°A♯ø7
vi°B♯°B♯ø7
viiC♯mC♯m(maj7)

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

How to practise the D♯ 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 D♯ Dorian ♭2 scale?

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

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

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

More D♯ scales

D♯ Natural Minor, D♯ Dorian, D♯ Phrygian, D♯ Locrian, D♯ Minor Pentatonic, D♯ Blues, D♯ Altered, 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.