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Scale · 7 notes

F♯ Dorian ♭2 Scale

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

EGABC♯D♯F♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABD♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EGABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯G

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

Notes in the F♯ Dorian ♭2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1F♯Tonic
♭2GSupertonic
♭3AMediant
4BSubdominant
5C♯Dominant
6D♯Submediant
♭7ESubtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: F♯ G A B C♯ D♯ E.

F♯ 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 F♯ Dorian ♭2 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
iF♯mF♯m7
II+G+G7♯5
IIIAA7
IVBB7
v°C♯°C♯ø7
vi°D♯°D♯ø7
viiEmEm(maj7)

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

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

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

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

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

More F♯ scales

F♯ Major, F♯ Natural Minor, F♯ Harmonic Minor, F♯ Melodic Minor, F♯ Dorian, F♯ Phrygian, F♯ Lydian, F♯ Mixolydian, F♯ Locrian, F♯ Major Pentatonic, F♯ Minor Pentatonic, F♯ Blues, F♯ Lydian Dominant, F♯ Altered, F♯ Mixolydian ♭6, F♯ Locrian ♯2, F♯ Phrygian Dominant, F♯ Hungarian Minor, F♯ Double Harmonic, F♯ Diminished (W–H), F♯ Diminished (H–W), F♯ Bebop Dominant, F♯ 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.