A# Dorian Guitar Scale — 8-string

Guitar scale in 8-string tuning — fretboard diagram

A# dorian scale — 8-string guitar fretboard diagramInteractive fretboard diagram showing the A# dorian scale on 8-string guitar with 24 frets. Notes: F, G, G#, A#, C, C#, D#.FGG#A#CC#D#FGG#A#CC#D#CC#D#FGG#A#CC#D#FGG#A#GG#A#CC#D#FGG#A#CC#D#FGD#FGG#A#CC#D#FGG#A#CC#A#CC#D#FGG#A#CC#D#FGG#FGG#A#CC#D#FGG#A#CC#D#CC#D#FGG#A#CC#D#FGG#A#GG#A#CC#D#FGG#A#CC#D#F135791112131517192123

A# Dorian in 8-string — Notes and Intervals

The A# Dorian scale is the second mode of the major scale, offering a soulful and sophisticated minor sound. On Guitar, it contains the notes A#, C, C#, D#, F, G, G#. 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 A# Dorian are A#m7, Cm7, C#Maj7, D#7, Fm7, Gm7b5, G#Maj7. 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: A#, C, C#, D#, F, G, G#

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

Tuning: 8-string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E)

Diatonic Chords

A♯m7 — Cm7 — C♯Maj7 — D♯7 — Fm7 — Gm7♭5 — G♯Maj7

About 8-string Tuning

The 8-string guitar adds both a low B and a low F# string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E), pushing the instrument's range almost into bass guitar territory. This massive tonal range has become the weapon of choice for djent, progressive metal, and experimental composers who need bone-crushing low-end and soaring highs in a single instrument.

With artists like Tosin Abasi, Meshuggah, and After the Burial leading the charge, the 8-string guitar has redefined what's possible in modern heavy music. The low F# string delivers subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest, while the upper strings maintain standard guitar voicings for leads and clean passages. Extended-range compositions often exploit the full span of the instrument, creating a wall of sound that covers bass, rhythm, and lead guitar roles simultaneously.

DjentProgressive MetalTechnical Death MetalExperimentalAmbient

Notable artists: Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders, After the Burial, Intervals, Monuments

Best for: Djent polyrhythms, extended-range metal riffs, experimental compositions, and one-instrument arrangements spanning bass to lead

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in 8-string tuning