Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
A Dorian ♯4
♯4 over a minor 3rd and natural 6th. Gypsy / Romanian minor.
Where you hear it: Over minor chords with a ♯11 colour.
Step pattern W – H – W+H – H – W – H – W
- Parent scale: E harmonic minor (starts on its 4th degree)
- Compared with A major: ♭3 C♯ → C, ♯4 D → D♯, ♭7 G♯ → G
- Compared with A natural minor: ♯4 D → D♯, ♯6 F → F♯
A Dorian ♯4 on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭7: playedother notes of Dorian ♯4: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as A Dorian ♯4
Every chord in A Dorian ♯4
- Am71/25easyopen
- B71/18easyopen
- Cmaj71/18easyopen
- D♯dim71/4easyfret 1
- Em(maj7)1/6mediumfret 7
- F♯m7♭51/14easyfret 2· shell
- Gmaj7♯51/9easyfret 3· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in A Dorian ♯4
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
i – II
The “Romanian minor” sound. The II is a major chord a whole step up and its 3rd is the ♯4, the note that sets this mode apart from Dorian.
i – II – ♭III – i
Home, the major II, ♭III and back: the roots climb a whole step and then a half step, then fall to i.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From Am you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of A Dorian ♯4.
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Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.