Guitar scale reference
Dorian scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
Dorian is a minor mode with a natural 6th. That single degree separates it from natural minor and supports a brighter, more mobile minor sound often used over minor seventh harmony.
What gives the scale its sound
The contrast between ♭3 and natural 6 is the mode’s fingerprint. Targeting the 6th over a minor tonic makes Dorian audible without relying on a memorised starting note.
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7
- Notes in C
- C · D · E♭ · F · G · A · B♭
C Dorian across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8-10-11-10--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8-10-11----------------11-10--8----------------------------------| G|-------------------------7--8-10----------------------------------10--8--7-------------------------| D|----------------7--8-10----------------------------------------------------10--8--7----------------| A|----------8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------10--8----------| E|-8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------10-11-13-11-10-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------10-11-13----------------13-11-10----------------------------------| G|---------------------------10-12----------------------------------12-10----------------------------| D|------------------10-12-13----------------------------------------------13-12-10-------------------| A|---------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10----------| E|10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------11-13-15-13-11----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------11-13-15----------------15-13-11-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------12-14-15----------------------------------15-14-12----------------------------| D|------------------12-13-15----------------------------------------------------15-13-12-------------------| A|---------12-13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------15-13-12----------| E|11-13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-13-11-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 14–18
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------15-17-18-17-15-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------15-16-18----------------18-16-15----------------------------------| G|------------------------14-15-17----------------------------------17-15-14-------------------------| D|------------------15-17----------------------------------------------------17-15-------------------| A|---------15-17-18----------------------------------------------------------------18-17-15----------| E|15-17-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-17-15-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 16–20
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------17-18-20-18-17----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------16-18-20----------------20-18-16-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------17-19-20----------------------------------20-19-17----------------------------| D|------------------17-19-20----------------------------------------------------20-19-17-------------------| A|---------17-18-20----------------------------------------------------------------------20-18-17----------| E|17-18-20----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20-18-17-|
Practice drill
Find every natural 6th in one CAGED position and resolve each to the 5th or ♭7. Repeat across all five shapes, then connect positions by landing on the 6th.
Open the scale randomiser