Guitar scale reference
E 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 E
- E · F♯ · G · A · B · C♯ · D
E 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 0–4
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------0--2--3--2--0----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------0--2--3-----------------3--2--0-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------0--2--4-----------------------------------4--2--0----------------------------| D|-------------------0--2--4-----------------------------------------------------4--2--0-------------------| A|----------0--2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------4--2--0----------| E|-0--2--3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3--2--0-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 1–5
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------2--3--5--3--2-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------2--3--5-----------------5--3--2----------------------------------| G|----------------------------2--4-----------------------------------4--2----------------------------| D|-------------------2--4--5-----------------------------------------------5--4--2-------------------| A|----------2--4--5-----------------------------------------------------------------5--4--2----------| E|-2--3--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------5--3--2-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------3--5--7--5--3----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------3--5--7-----------------7--5--3-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------4--6--7-----------------------------------7--6--4----------------------------| D|-------------------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------7--5--4-------------------| A|----------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--4----------| E|-3--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--3-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------7--9-10--9--7-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------7--8-10----------------10--8--7----------------------------------| G|-------------------------6--7--9-----------------------------------9--7--6-------------------------| D|-------------------7--9-----------------------------------------------------9--7-------------------| A|----------7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7----------| E|-7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------9-10-12-10--9----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------8-10-12----------------12-10--8-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-11-12----------------------------------12-11--9----------------------------| D|-------------------9-11-12----------------------------------------------------12-11--9-------------------| A|----------9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9----------| E|-9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9-|
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