A# Dorian #4 Charango Scale
Charango scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate
A# Dorian #4 Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A# Dorian #4 scale, known in Eastern Europe as the Ukrainian Dorian or Misheberak, has a deeply soulful, crying quality. On Charango, the notes are A#, C, C#, E, F, G, G#. It is a pillar of Jewish Klezmer music and traditional Balkan folk songs. Commonly used in Klezmer, Balkan Folk, Metal, Film Scores. Notable players include Itzhak Perlman, Bregovic, System of a Down. Use over m7 chords in Klezmer and Balkan contexts. The #4 adds the exotic 'weeping' quality that defines these traditions.
Notes: A#, C, C#, E, F, G, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4A, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 b7
Formula: W-H-WH-H-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: ukrainian dorian, romanian minor, altered dorian
Musical Character
Also known as the Ukrainian Dorian or Misheberak mode. The #4 within a minor context creates the characteristic 'crying' quality of Jewish and Eastern European music.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Klezmer, Balkan Folk, Metal, Film Scores
Notable players: Itzhak Perlman, Bregovic, System of a Down
How to Use the A# Dorian #4 Scale
Use over m7 chords in Klezmer and Balkan contexts. The #4 adds the exotic 'weeping' quality that defines these traditions.
Origin & Background
Known as the Ukrainian Dorian or Misheberak scale. A pillar of Jewish Klezmer music and traditional Balkan folk songs.
How to Play A# Dorian #4 on Charango
Begin by locating A# on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Dorian #4 scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A# Dorian #4 scale contains 3 sharps (A#, C#, G#). Its relative major is C# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A# Dorian #4 scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A#-C#, C-E) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A# to let the characteristic intervals of the Dorian #4 scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in balkan folk contexts.
Charango Tips
Practice the A# Dorian #4 scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a soulful quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Dorian #4 is the 4th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. View A# Harmonic minor scale
The A# Dorian #4 scale contains 7 notes (A#, C, C#, E, F, G, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Charango with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A# Dorian #4
The A# Dorian #4 scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A# Dorian #4 Further
- Browse chord progressions
- A# Dorian #4 on Guitar
- A# Dorian #4 on Ukulele
- A# Dorian #4 on Bass
- A# Dorian #4 on Piano