Guitar scale reference
B♭ 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 B♭
- B♭ · C · D♭ · E♭ · F · G · A♭
B♭ 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 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------6--8--9--8--6-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------6--8--9-----------------9--8--6----------------------------------| G|-------------------------5--6--8-----------------------------------8--6--5-------------------------| D|----------------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------------8--6--5----------------| A|----------6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------8--6----------| E|-6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--8--6-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8--9-11--9--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8--9-11----------------11--9--8----------------------------------| G|----------------------------8-10----------------------------------10--8----------------------------| D|-------------------8-10-11----------------------------------------------11-10--8-------------------| A|----------8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8----------| E|-8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------9-11-13-11--9----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------9-11-13----------------13-11--9-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------10-12-13----------------------------------13-12-10----------------------------| D|------------------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------13-11-10-------------------| A|---------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10----------| E|-9-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11--9-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-15-16-15-13-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------13-14-16----------------16-14-13----------------------------------| G|------------------------12-13-15----------------------------------15-13-12-------------------------| D|------------------13-15----------------------------------------------------15-13-------------------| A|---------13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13----------| E|13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 14–18
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------15-16-18-16-15----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------14-16-18----------------18-16-14-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------15-17-18----------------------------------18-17-15----------------------------| D|------------------15-17-18----------------------------------------------------18-17-15-------------------| A|---------15-16-18----------------------------------------------------------------------18-16-15----------| E|15-16-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-16-15-|
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.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser