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 4–8
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------5--7--8--7--5-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------5--7--8-----------------8--7--5----------------------------------| G|-------------------------4--5--7-----------------------------------7--5--4-------------------------| D|----------------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------7--5--4----------------| A|----------5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------7--5----------| E|-5--7--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--7--5-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------7--8-10--8--7-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------7--8-10----------------10--8--7----------------------------------| G|----------------------------7--9-----------------------------------9--7----------------------------| D|-------------------7--9-10----------------------------------------------10--9--7-------------------| A|----------7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7----------| E|-7--8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--8--7-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------8-10-12-10--8----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------8-10-12----------------12-10--8-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-11-12----------------------------------12-11--9----------------------------| D|-------------------9-10-12----------------------------------------------------12-10--9-------------------| A|----------9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9----------| E|-8-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--8-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------12-14-15-14-12-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------12-13-15----------------15-13-12----------------------------------| G|------------------------11-12-14----------------------------------14-12-11-------------------------| D|------------------12-14----------------------------------------------------14-12-------------------| A|---------12-14-15----------------------------------------------------------------15-14-12----------| E|12-14-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-14-12-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 13–17
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------14-15-17-15-14----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------13-15-17----------------17-15-13-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------14-16-17----------------------------------17-16-14----------------------------| D|------------------14-16-17----------------------------------------------------17-16-14-------------------| A|---------14-15-17----------------------------------------------------------------------17-15-14----------| E|14-15-17----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------17-15-14-|
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