Dorian scale · 7 notes
B Dorian scale on guitar
The B Dorian scale has 7 notes: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ and A. A minor scale with a bright natural 6th: the sound of funk, jazz-rock and Santana.
Notes
- B
- C♯
- D
- E
- F♯
- G♯
- A
Formula
1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7
Steps
W – H – W – W – W – H – W
Sound
Minor but hopeful, cool and funky
B Dorian on the whole fretboard
Every B Dorian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, B, is shown in red so you can always find home.
A shape to learn first
You don’t need the whole neck at once. This hand position is anchored on a root note on the 6th (low E) string, which is how most guitarists find a scale in any key.
Root on the 6th (low E) string
B at fret 7. 6th position: frets 6–10.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of B Dorian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from B, the B Dorian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 3 sharps (C♯, F♯ and G♯). Compared with B minor, it has G♯ (6) instead of G.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | root | 0 |
| 2 | C♯ | major 2nd | 2 |
| ♭3 | D | minor 3rd | 3 |
| 4 | E | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | G♯ | major 6th | 9 |
| ♭7 | A | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in B Dorian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to B Dorian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in B Dorian.
- iBmB · D · F♯Bm7
- iiC♯mC♯ · E · G♯C♯m7
- ♭IIIDD · F♯ · ADmaj7
- IVEE · G♯ · BE7
- vF♯mF♯ · A · C♯F♯m7
- vi°G♯°G♯ · B · DG♯m7♭5
- ♭VIIAA · C♯ · EAmaj7
Progressions to try
- Bm – E i–IV · the classic Dorian vamp
- Bm – C♯m i–ii
- Bm – A – E i–♭VII–IV
How to use B Dorian
Reach for it over minor 7th chords, one- or two-chord minor vamps (i–IV), funk, jazz, and Santana-style rock. Its sound is minor but hopeful, cool and funky.
Tip: Dorian is the natural minor with a raised 6th. Over a minor vamp, aim for that 6th: it is the note that makes Dorian sound like Dorian.
- B Dorian contains exactly the notes of A major, played from its second note, B. See A major.
Where to find B on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every B between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with B |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 7 |
| B (2nd) | 0, 12 |
| G (3rd) | 4 |
| D (4th) | 9 |
| A (5th) | 2 |
| Low E (6th) | 7 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as B Dorian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
B Dorian scale FAQ
What notes are in the B Dorian scale?
The B Dorian scale has 7 notes: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ and A. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7. It contains 3 sharps (C♯, F♯ and G♯).
What chords are in B Dorian?
Harmonising the B Dorian scale in thirds gives Bm (i), C♯m (ii), D (♭III), E (IV), F♯m (v), G♯° (vi°) and A (♭VII).
Where do you play the B Dorian scale on guitar?
The root, B, is at fret 7 on the low E string and fret 2 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 6–10, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as B Dorian?
B Dorian contains exactly the notes of A major, played from its second note, B.