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Scale · 7 notes

G♯ Dorian ♭2 Scale

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

E♯ABC♯D♯F♯G♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABD♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯

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

Notes in the G♯ Dorian ♭2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1G♯Tonic
♭2ASupertonic
♭3BMediant
4C♯Subdominant
5D♯Dominant
6E♯Submediant
♭7F♯Subtonic

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

G♯ 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 G♯ Dorian ♭2 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
iG♯mG♯m7
II+A+A7♯5
IIIBB7
IVC♯C♯7
v°D♯°D♯ø7
vi°E♯°E♯ø7
viiF♯mF♯m(maj7)

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

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

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

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

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

More G♯ scales

G♯ Natural Minor, G♯ Dorian, G♯ Phrygian, G♯ Mixolydian, G♯ Locrian, G♯ Major Pentatonic, G♯ Minor Pentatonic, G♯ Blues, G♯ Altered, G♯ Mixolydian ♭6, G♯ Locrian ♯2, G♯ Phrygian Dominant

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.