B Dorian Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
B Dorian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Dorian scale is the second mode of the major scale, offering a soulful and sophisticated minor sound. On Guitar, it contains the notes B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A. Because it features a major sixth, it sounds brighter and more hopeful than the natural minor. It is the go-to scale for jazz, funk, and modal blues. The diatonic chords of B Dorian are Bm7, C#m7, DMaj7, E7, F#m7, G#m7b5, AMaj7. Commonly used in Funk, Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, Blues. Notable players include Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, D'Angelo. Use over m7, m9, m11, m13 chords. The go-to scale for any minor chord in funk, jazz, and soul. Works especially well over long minor vamps.
Notes: B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
Bm7 — C♯m7 — DMaj7 — E7 — F♯m7 — G♯m7♭5 — AMaj7
How to Play B Dorian on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 7 on the 6th (low E) to find your B root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is 2nd fret on the A string.
The B Dorian scale contains 3 sharps (C#, F#, G#). Its relative major is D major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the B Dorian scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (B-D, C#-E) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Try these progressions with the B Dorian scale: Bm7 - E7 - F#m7 - Bm7 (I-IV-V-I) or Bm7 - C#m7 - E7 - F#m7 for a more stepwise movement.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the B Dorian scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The B Dorian scale contains 7 notes (B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Dorian
The B Dorian 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 B Dorian Further
- Harmonize the B Dorian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- B Dorian on Ukulele
- B Dorian on Bass
- B Dorian on Piano
Explore B Dorian in Other Tunings
- B Dorian in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Dorian in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- B Dorian in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- B Dorian in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- B Dorian in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- B Dorian in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- B Dorian in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- B Dorian in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- B Dorian in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- B Dorian in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- B Dorian in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- B Dorian in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- B Dorian in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Dorian in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)