A Dorian #4 Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
A Dorian #4 Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Dorian #4 scale, known in Eastern Europe as the Ukrainian Dorian or Misheberak, has a deeply soulful, crying quality. On Ukulele, the notes are A, B, C, D#, E, F#, G. It is a pillar of Jewish Klezmer music and traditional Balkan folk songs. Commonly used in Klezmer, Balkan Folk, Metal, Film Scores. Notable players include Itzhak Perlman, Bregovic, System of a Down. Use over m7 chords in Klezmer and Balkan contexts. The #4 adds the exotic 'weeping' quality that defines these traditions.
Notes: A, B, C, D#, E, F#, G
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4A, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 b7
Formula: W-H-WH-H-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: ukrainian dorian, romanian minor, altered dorian
How to Play A Dorian #4 on Ukulele
On ukulele, find A on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The A Dorian #4 scale contains 2 sharps (D#, F#). Its relative major is C major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A Dorian #4 scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-C, B-D#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Dorian #4 scale come through clearly.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the A Dorian #4 scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know.
The A Dorian #4 scale contains 7 notes (A, B, C, D#, E, F#, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Dorian #4
The A Dorian #4 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 A Dorian #4 Further
- Harmonize the A Dorian #4 scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Dorian #4 on Guitar
- A Dorian #4 on Bass
- A Dorian #4 on Piano