C Ukrainian Dorian Scale

Q: What is the Ukrainian Dorian scale?

Ukrainian Dorian is a sequence of notes built on a specific interval formula. Each scale has a characteristic sound: major sounds bright, minor sounds melancholic, exotic scales sound sharp or mysterious.

Q: How do I play the Ukrainian Dorian scale on guitar?

Choose a root note on the fretboard and follow the position diagram above. Start slowly, practising each position ascending and descending. Use a metronome and gradually increase the BPM.

Q: What music styles use the Ukrainian Dorian scale?

Each scale has its own character and genre associations. See the theory block on this page: it lists characteristic styles and famous song examples.

Q: How do I transpose the Ukrainian Dorian scale to another key?

Use the root selector at the top of the page — all positions automatically adjust to the chosen root. The fingering patterns stay the same; only the starting fret changes.

Q: What is the difference between scales and modes?

A scale is a set of notes. A mode is a scale viewed from a specific degree. For example, C major and D Dorian contain the same notes but start from different degrees and sound different.

Dorian mode with a raised fourth. Characteristic Ukrainian folk flavor.

How to play the scale

Notes

Direction

Музыкальный контекст

АккордC MajorТрезвучие

АрпеджиоC Major arpeggioТрезвучие

ГаммаC ukrainian dorian7 нот

ТональностьC MajorМажорная тональность

ПрогрессияPop progressionПоп-прогрессия

Показывает, как текущий элемент связан с ладом, тональностью и используется в музыке.

Theory

General info

Name: C Ukrainian Dorian scale
Type: Minor
Note count: 7
Description: Dorian mode with a raised fourth. Characteristic Ukrainian folk flavor.

Notes & degrees

Degrees, notes & intervals: 1Croot
2Dmajor 2nd
3D#minor 3rd
4F#tritone
5Gperfect 5th
6Amajor 6th
7A#minor 7th

Interval formula: C2 stD1 stD#3 stF#1 stG2 stA1 stA#
Brief explanation: C Ukrainian Dorian scale follows the pattern W – H – WH – H – W – H – W from root C. It is a 7-note scale with a minor character.

How it sounds

Character: recognizable Ukrainian folk character
raised 4th in minor creates warm folk tint
close to Romanian minor but with a softer sound
Characteristic interval: Tritone (Augmented 4th)TT · 6 st
Description: The raised 4th degree in minor creates the recognizable Ukrainian folk character.
Where recognized: Ukrainian folk music
Balkan folk
Jazz Eastern European harmonies

Chords by degreeC Ukrainian Dorian

iCmminC Eb GTonic IIDmajD F# A IIIEbmajEb G Bb iv°F#dimdimF# A C vGmminG Bb DDominant vi°AdimdimA C Eb VII+BbaugaugBb D F#

Harmonic context

Similar to Romanian minor. Ideal for Ukrainian folk harmonies and folk-jazz arrangements.

Tendencies & resolutions

Pillar degrees: 1C(До)root
3D#(Ре-диез)minor 3rd
5G(Соль)perfect 5th
Characteristic degrees: 4F#(Фа-диез)raised 4th degree
6A(Ля)raised 6th degree
Tendencies & resolutions: 7A#A#
1CC
subtonic tends toward the tonic (whole step down) — soft tendency
2DD
1CC
2nd degree tends down to the tonic
6AA
5GG
6th degree tends down to the 5th
4F#F#
5GG
the tritone creates maximum tension and seeks resolution

Connections & usage

Compatible chords

Chords whose notes all belong to this scale. Suitable for accompaniment and harmonization.

CmC Minor Cm7C Minor 7 CdimC Diminished Cdim7C Diminished 7th Cm7b5C Half-dim 7 Csus2C Sus2 C5C Power chord Cm6C Minor 6

Show more (6)

Cm6/9C Minor 6/9 Cm9C Minor 9 Cmadd9C Minor Add9 Cm9b5C Minor 9b5 Cm13C Minor 13 C7sus2C 7sus2

DD Major D7D Dominant 7 DaugD Augmented Daug7D Aug 7th Dsus4D Sus4 D7sus4D 7sus4 D5D Power chord D7b9D 7b9

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D7b9#5D 7b9#5 Db13b9D b13b9 D7b13D 7b13 Dadd11D Add11

EbEb Major EbmEb Minor Ebmaj7Eb Major 7 EbdimEb Diminished Ebdim7Eb Diminished 7th Eb5Eb Power chord Eb6Eb 6th Ebm6Eb Minor 6

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EbmMaj7Eb Minor-major 7 Ebmaj7b5Eb Major 7b5 EbmMaj7b5Eb Minor-maj 7b5 Ebmaj7#11Eb Major 7#11 Ebdim(maj7)Eb Diminished major 7

F#dimF# Diminished F#dim7F# Diminished 7th F#augF# Augmented

GmG Minor Gsus2G Sus2 Gsus4G Sus4 G5G Power chord Gmadd9G Minor Add9 GmMaj7G Minor-major 7 GmMaj9G Minor-major 9 GmMaj11G Minor-major 11

Show more (1)

Gm(add11)G Minor Add11

AdimA Diminished Adim7A Diminished 7th Am7b5A Half-dim 7

BbaugBb Augmented Bbmaj7#5Bb Major 7#5

Circle of Fifths

Position of the key on the Circle of Fifths. Click a neighboring key to open the same scale in that key.

C major

Relative key: Am
Dominant: G
Subdominant: F
Key signature: none

Diatonic chords

ICmajorC E GTonic iiDmminorD F A iiiEmminorE G B IVFmajorF A CSubdominant VGmajorG B DDominant viAmminorA C E vii°BdimdimB D FLeading tone

Musical application

Genres

Ukrainian folk, folk, jazz

Play this scale

Practice positions and patterns on the interactive fretboard.

Open fretboard trainer

What to learn next

ScaleMajor pentatonicPentatonic — simplified version to start with

Compare all

Diatonic chords (C)

C (I)Dm (ii)Em (iii)F (IV)G (V)Am (vi)B° (vii°)

Other modes

Ionian (major)Dorian Phrygian Lydian

Recommended for you

What is the Ukrainian Dorian scale?

How do I play the Ukrainian Dorian scale on guitar?

What music styles use the Ukrainian Dorian scale?

How do I transpose the Ukrainian Dorian scale to another key?

What is the difference between scales and modes?