About the G#/Ab Dorian Scale
The G#/Ab dorian scale is a 7-note scale. Minor scale with raised 6th, jazzy sound. Its notes are G#, A#, B, C#, D#, F and F#, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.
- Notes
- G# – A# – B – C# – D# – F – F#
- Formula
- 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7
- Steps
- W H W W W H W (2–1–2–2–2–1–2 semitones)
- Root
- G#/Ab
G#/Ab Dorian Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G# | Root |
| 2 | A# | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | B | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C# | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D# | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F | Major 6th |
| ♭7 | F# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the G#/Ab Dorian Scale on guitar
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G B E), lowest string first. Root notes (G#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 |
| A2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| D3 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| G3 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| B3 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| E4 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 |
How to practice the dorian scale
- Highlight the natural 6th degree
- Practice over minor 7th vamps
- Work on jazz-style phrasing
- Try Santana-style melodic lines
- Compare with natural minor to hear difference
Scales with the same notes as G#/Ab Dorian Scale
These scales share every note with the G#/Ab dorian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Dorian scale in other keys
Other scales in G#/Ab
- G#/Ab Minor Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Major Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Natural Minor
- G#/Ab Major (Ionian)
- G#/Ab Blues
- G#/Ab Mixolydian
- G#/Ab Phrygian
- G#/Ab Harmonic Minor
- G#/Ab Lydian
- G#/Ab Locrian
- G#/Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)
- G#/Ab Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G#/Ab Whole Tone
- G#/Ab Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G#/Ab Altered (Super Locrian)
- G#/Ab Phrygian Dominant
- G#/Ab Lydian Dominant
- G#/Ab Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G#/Ab Bebop Dominant
- G#/Ab Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G#/Ab Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)