STRINGSCALES

E♭ dorian #4 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

A string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

D string: Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

G string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

High E string: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

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Eb dorian #4

The dorian #4 scale, the fourth mode of the harmonic minor scale, is also known as the ukrainian dorian or romanian minor scale. Dorian's minor-with-a-bright-6th frame gets a raised 4th, producing the klezmer and Eastern European fiddle sound. The #4 pulls up to the 5th while the b3 keeps it minor: instant folk drama over a minor chord.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

E♭

i

E♭m
F

II

Fmaj
G♭

bIII

G♭maj
A

#iv°

Adim
B♭

v

B♭m
C

vi°

Cdim
D♭

bVII+

D♭aug

Characteristic note: A (#4), the raised fourth over a dorian base, the Ukrainian dorian sound.

Same notes, different mode

Eb dorian #4 uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

F phrygian dominantGb lydian #9A ultralocrianBb harmonic minorC locrian 6Db major augmented

dorian #4 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • The klezmer move: bIII (Gb) up to #IV (A), an augmented 2nd inside a minor scale with a bright 6th; practice it as a slide on one string.
  • It is harmonic minor's fourth mode: Eb dorian #4 (A) equals the harmonic minor a 4th below, so fingerings transfer.
  • Resolve #IV (A) up to V constantly; that pull against the minor 3rd is the Eastern European fiddle sound.
  • Over a m6 or m7 vamp, alternate plain dorian and dorian #4 (A): moving one note in and out keeps a long solo alive.

How to play E♭ dorian #4 on guitar

Open A is the one string in the scale, an augmented fourth over Eb, so open-string work is limited and this key lives on fretted shapes. Capo fret 1 and D fingerings cover it, which means 4 flats never reach your left hand. Lowest root sits at fret 11. Dbaug fills the bVII+ and Adim the #iv, so with Bbm as the v nothing here acts as a dominant.

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