Guitar scale reference
F 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 F
- F · G · A♭ · B♭ · C · D · E♭
F 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|-------------------------------------------1--3--4--3--1-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------1--3--4-----------------4--3--1----------------------------------| G|-------------------------0--1--3-----------------------------------3--1--0-------------------------| D|----------------0--1--3-----------------------------------------------------3--1--0----------------| A|----------1--3-----------------------------------------------------------------------3--1----------| E|-1--3--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4--3--1-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 2–6
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------3--4--6--4--3-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------3--4--6-----------------6--4--3----------------------------------| G|----------------------------3--5-----------------------------------5--3----------------------------| D|-------------------3--5--6-----------------------------------------------6--5--3-------------------| A|----------3--5--6-----------------------------------------------------------------6--5--3----------| E|-3--4--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------6--4--3-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 4–8
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------4--6--8--6--4----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------4--6--8-----------------8--6--4-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------5--7--8-----------------------------------8--7--5----------------------------| D|-------------------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------------8--6--5-------------------| A|----------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------8--6--5----------| E|-4--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--6--4-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8-10-11-10--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8--9-11----------------11--9--8----------------------------------| G|-------------------------7--8-10----------------------------------10--8--7-------------------------| D|-------------------8-10----------------------------------------------------10--8-------------------| A|----------8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8----------| E|-8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------10-11-13-11-10----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------9-11-13----------------13-11--9-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------10-12-13----------------------------------13-12-10----------------------------| D|------------------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------13-12-10-------------------| A|---------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10----------| E|10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10-|
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