D♯ Dorian at a glance
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood. Built on the root D♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where D♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m |
| Step pattern | W H W W W H W |
| Chords in the key | D♯mE♯mF♯G♯A♯mB♯°C♯ |
Chords in the D♯ Dorian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
D♯ Dorian on the piano
Improvisation drone · D♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano D♯ Dorian uses five black keys (D♯, F♯, G♯, A♯ and C♯) and two white. E♯ and B♯ are the white keys you'd normally call F and C.
D♯ · E♯ · F♯ · G♯ · A♯ · B♯ · C♯
Try D♯ Dorian on the virtual piano
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D♯ Dorian on the guitar
D♯ Dorian - fr 0–12
D♯ Dorian on the staff
Notes of the D♯ Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | E♯ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | F♯ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | G♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | A♯ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | B♯ | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | C♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes D♯ Dorian different
Dorian is a minor mode with a major sixth, and that one note is all that separates it from natural minor. Because of the major sixth, the IV chord is major rather than minor, and the i to IV vamp is the sound most people recognise as Dorian. It's the second mode of the major scale, so it has the same notes as the major scale a whole step below its root. Its step pattern (W H W W W H W) reads the same forwards and backwards, and it's the brightest of the three common minor modes. On D♯, D♯ Dorian has B♯ where D♯ Natural Minor has B; every other note is shared with D♯ Natural Minor (D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯).
Modes from D♯ Dorian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the D♯ Dorian scale
The diatonic chords of D♯ Dorian are: i = D♯m, ii = E♯m, III = F♯, IV = G♯, v = A♯m, vi° = B♯°, VII = C♯. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in D♯ Dorian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood.
Practice tips
Solo over a minor 7 chord using only dorian notes. That raised sixth makes phrases sound bright without losing the minor character.
Formula & step pattern
The D♯ Dorian scale follows a minor scale with a raised sixth degree (W-H-W-W-W-H-W). Step pattern: W - H - W - W - W - H - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear D♯ Dorian
Start with the music described above: listen for D♯ Dorian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the D♯ Dorian scale?
The D♯ Dorian scale contains D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯ and C♯.
What is the formula for the D♯ Dorian scale?
D♯ Dorian follows a minor scale with a raised sixth degree (W-H-W-W-W-H-W).
Is D♯ Dorian a major or minor scale?
D♯ Dorian is a dorian scale. Minor scale with a bright raised sixth - sophisticated and groove-friendly.
What chords belong to the D♯ Dorian scale?
The diatonic chords of D♯ Dorian are D♯m, E♯m, F♯, G♯, A♯m, B♯°, C♯.
Which genres use D♯ Dorian?
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood.
How do you play the D♯ Dorian scale on the piano?
On the piano D♯ Dorian uses five black keys (D♯, F♯, G♯, A♯ and C♯) and two white. E♯ and B♯ are the white keys you'd normally call F and C.
What is the difference between D♯ Dorian and D♯ Natural Minor?
On D♯, D♯ Dorian has B♯ where D♯ Natural Minor has B; every other note is shared with D♯ Natural Minor (D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯).
How do I practise the D♯ Dorian scale?
Solo over a minor 7 chord using only dorian notes. That raised sixth makes phrases sound bright without losing the minor character.