G Dorian ♯11

Sign up free to save favorites

100% free. No credit card required.

G Dorian ♯11 Scale

– – – – – – –

Step pattern W – H – W+H – H – W – H – W

G Dorian ♯11 contains 7 notes: G, A, B♭, C♯, D, E, F. It has 1 sharp: C♯. The step pattern is W–H–W+H–H–W–H–W. It is derived from G Harmonic Minor.

Dorian #4 (also called Romanian minor or Ukrainian Dorian) blends the warmth of Dorian with a raised 4th, creating a mysterious, exotic sound rooted in Eastern European folk music.

Theory

Built as 1 - 2 - b3 - #4 - 5 - 6 - b7, this is the 4th mode of harmonic minor. It combines Dorian's natural 6th with a Lydian-like #4. The jump from b3 to #4 is an augmented 2nd that gives it a distinctive "gypsy" quality. The tonic chord is m7 with a #11 extension.

On the guitar

An excellent alternative to standard Dorian when improvising over minor chords. Emphasize the twisting interval from b3 to #4 for maximum character. The CAGED shapes from harmonic minor work here with the 4th degree as root. Try it over static minor vamps for an immediate Eastern European flavor.

Piano