C# Dorian Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
C# Dorian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C# Dorian scale is the second mode of the major scale, offering a soulful and sophisticated minor sound. On Guitar, it contains the notes C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B. Because it features a major sixth, it sounds brighter and more hopeful than the natural minor. It is the go-to scale for jazz, funk, and modal blues. The diatonic chords of C# Dorian are C#m7, D#m7, EMaj7, F#7, G#m7, A#m7b5, BMaj7. Commonly used in Funk, Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, Blues. Notable players include Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, D'Angelo. Use over m7, m9, m11, m13 chords. The go-to scale for any minor chord in funk, jazz, and soul. Works especially well over long minor vamps.
Notes: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
C♯m7 — D♯m7 — EMaj7 — F♯7 — G♯m7 — A♯m7♭5 — BMaj7
How to Play C# Dorian on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 9 on the 6th (low E) to find your C# root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is 4th fret on the A string.
The C# Dorian scale contains 5 sharps (C#, D#, F#, G#, A#). Its relative major is E major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the C# Dorian scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Try these progressions with the C# Dorian scale: C#m7 - F#7 - G#m7 - C#m7 (I-IV-V-I) or C#m7 - D#m7 - F#7 - G#m7 for a more stepwise movement.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the C# Dorian scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The C# Dorian scale contains 7 notes (C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C# Dorian
The C# Dorian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore C# Dorian Further
- Harmonize the C# Dorian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C# Dorian on Ukulele
- C# Dorian on Bass
- C# Dorian on Piano
Explore C# Dorian in Other Tunings
- C# Dorian in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- C# Dorian in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- C# Dorian in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- C# Dorian in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- C# Dorian in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- C# Dorian in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- C# Dorian in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- C# Dorian in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- C# Dorian in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- C# Dorian in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- C# Dorian in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- C# Dorian in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- C# Dorian in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- C# Dorian in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)