A Dorian #4 Scale on Guitar
The A Dorian #4 scale, also called Ukrainian Dorian, is A, B, C, D#, E, F# and G. It is A Dorian with the fourth raised, so D becomes D#, and that one change adds a tense tritone above the root.
The scale is the fourth mode of E harmonic minor. Open A, E, B and G strings all fit inside it, and the root is also on the 5th fret of the low E string. Play it over an Am7 vamp and let the D# hang before resolving to E, which is the note it most wants to go to.
Play the A dorian #4 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the A dorian #4 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root | 0 |
| B | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| C | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| D# | #4 | Tritone | 6 |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| F# | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
A dorian #4 scale notes:
How the dorian #4 scale is built:
The dorian #4 scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W+H-H-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 4 of the Harmonic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Ukrainian Dorian and Romanian Minor.
A Dorian #4 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the A dorian #4 scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as A Dorian #4
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| B Phrygian Dominant | 2 | Phrygian Dominant |
| C Lydian #2 | b3 | Lydian #2 Scale |
| Eb Super Locrian bb7 | #4 | Ultra Locrian |
| E Harmonic Minor | 5 | Harmonic Minor |
| F# Locrian #6 | 6 | Locrian natural 6 |
| G Ionian #5 | b7 | Ionian Augmented |
Other scales on A
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- A Gipsy Hungarian: shares 5 notes
- A Dorian: 4 instead of #4
- A Lydian Dominant: 3 instead of b3
The dorian #4 scale in other keys
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
