G# Dorian Scale on Piano

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

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

Interval Circle

WHWWWHWCC#4DD#5EE#6F#b7GG#1AA#2Bb3

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

Why this fingering

5 black keys (G#, A#, C#, D#, F#) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto B and E#; 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 G# Dorian

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

Other Dorian Scales

C Dorian
C – D – Eb – F – G – A – Bb
C# Dorian
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B
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
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 G# Scales

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