A Romanian minor
Dorian with a raised 4th; the augmented 2nd between degrees 3 and 4 adds tension.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- A Romanian minor
- Family
- Exotic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – H – W+H – H – W – H – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-1-3-1-2-1-2
Notes & degrees
1Aroot
2Bmajor 2nd
b3Cminor 3rd
#4D#aug 4th
5Eperfect 5th
6F#major 6th
b7Gminor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Dorian with a raised 4th; the augmented 2nd between degrees 3 and 4 adds tension.
- Application in music
- Pairs with a minor tonic and has the same pitch collection as Ukrainian Dorian.
- Interval formula
- AWBHCWHD#HEWF#HG
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IApoint of resttonic
IIICdefines modal qualitythird
VEsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IAA
IIBB
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how A Romanian minor looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.