C# Dorian Scale on Piano

The C# Dorian scale sounds cool and open. It runs C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B and is written with five sharps.

It shares its key signature with E major, its relative major.

Interval Circle

WHWWWHWCC#1DD#2Eb3FF#4GG#5AA#6Bb7

All twelve semitones, root at the top. Filled dots are the notes of the scale, the outer numbers are their degrees, and W / H mark the whole and half steps between them.

About This Scale

A minor scale with a raised 6th, which lifts it out of the gloom of natural minor without turning it major. Modal jazz, funk and a great deal of English folk song live here.

Fingering

Right Hand (ascending)

2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2

Left Hand (ascending)

3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3

Why this fingering

5 black keys (C#, D#, F#, G#, A#) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto E and B; let the elbow drift slightly outward as it passes rather than twisting the wrist.

The blue dots on the piano below show which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Notes in C# Dorian

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
C#C#4Root (1)23
D#D#4Major 2nd (2)32
EE4Minor 3rd (b3)11
F#F#4Perfect 4th (4)24
G#G#4Perfect 5th (5)33
A#A#4Major 6th (6)42
BB4Minor 7th (b7)11
C#C#5Octave (8)23

Other Dorian Scales

C Dorian
C – D – Eb – F – G – A – Bb
D Dorian
D – E – F – G – A – B – C
Eb Dorian
Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C – Db
E Dorian
E – F# – G – A – B – C# – D
F Dorian
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D – Eb
F# Dorian
F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E
G Dorian
G – A – Bb – C – D – E – F
G# Dorian
G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E# – F#
A Dorian
A – B – C – D – E – F# – G
Bb Dorian
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab
B Dorian
B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A

Other C# Scales

C# Natural Minor
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B
C# Harmonic Minor
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B#
C# Melodic Minor
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B#
C# Minor Pentatonic
C# – E – F# – G# – B
C# Blues
C# – E – F# – G – G# – B