Guitar scale reference
A♭ 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 A♭
- A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭
A♭ 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 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------4--6--7--6--4-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------4--6--7-----------------7--6--4----------------------------------| G|-------------------------3--4--6-----------------------------------6--4--3-------------------------| D|----------------3--4--6-----------------------------------------------------6--4--3----------------| A|----------4--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------6--4----------| E|-4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--6--4-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------6--7--9--7--6-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------6--7--9-----------------9--7--6----------------------------------| G|----------------------------6--8-----------------------------------8--6----------------------------| D|-------------------6--8--9-----------------------------------------------9--8--6-------------------| A|----------6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------------------9--8--6----------| E|-6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------7--9-11--9--7----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------7--9-11----------------11--9--7-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------8-10-11----------------------------------11-10--8----------------------------| D|-------------------8--9-11----------------------------------------------------11--9--8-------------------| A|----------8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8----------| E|-7--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11--9--7-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-13-14-13-11-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------11-12-14----------------14-12-11----------------------------------| G|------------------------10-11-13----------------------------------13-11-10-------------------------| D|------------------11-13----------------------------------------------------13-11-------------------| A|---------11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11----------| E|11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------13-14-16-14-13----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------12-14-16----------------16-14-12-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------13-15-16----------------------------------16-15-13----------------------------| D|------------------13-15-16----------------------------------------------------16-15-13-------------------| A|---------13-14-16----------------------------------------------------------------------16-14-13----------| E|13-14-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-14-13-|
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