Chord Colors

C♯ Dorian b5 scale

About the C sharp Dorian b5 scale

C sharp Dorian b5 is used for jazz solos and moody, unsettled passages. Think of it as a dorian minor with a flat fifth, dark and off balance.

Its notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The formula is W H W H 1½ H W. It is the second mode of B Harmonic Major.

Also called Maqam Karcigar.

The key draws four black keys from the piano, C, D, F, and A.

Chords in the key of C sharp Dorian b5

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

C sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

C sharp diminished over E (1st inversion)

ii D sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

D sharp minor over F sharp (1st inversion)

iii E minor
Position 2 of 3

E minor over G (1st inversion)

IV F sharp
Position 2 of 3

F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)

V+ G augmented
Position 2 of 3

G augmented over B (1st inversion)

vi° A sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

A sharp diminished over C sharp (1st inversion)

VII B
Position 2 of 3

B over D sharp (1st inversion)

Seventh chords in C sharp Dorian b5

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

C sharp minor seven flat five

C sharp minor seven flat five

ii D sharp minor seven

D sharp minor seven

iii E minor major seven

E minor major seven

IV F sharp seven

F sharp seven

V+ G major seven sharp five

G major seven sharp five

vi° A sharp diminished seven

A sharp diminished seven

VII B major seven

B major seven

Progressions in C sharp Dorian b5

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1C#C♯Root
2D#D♯Major 2nd
3EEMinor 3rd
4F#F♯Perfect 4th
5GGDiminished 5th
6A#A♯Major 6th
7BBMinor 7th
StepsW H W H 1½ H W
Semitones2-1-2-1-3-1-2
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules

Hand C sharpD sharpEF sharpGA sharpBC sharp
Right hand23123412
Left hand32143213

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Dorian b5 in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

Paste the snippet into a lesson page, a blog or a forum post. The card links back here.

Db Dorian b5 scale on piano shown as colored note dots
Chord Colors

There's so much more to explore

Explore on the go. Over 150 chord progressions, modal mixture, build your own progressions, and more!

Try web version iOS app
Chord Colors on iPhone showing chords, guitar voicings, progressions, and scales