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 1–5
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------2--4--5--4--2-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------2--4--5-----------------5--4--2----------------------------------| G|-------------------------1--2--4-----------------------------------4--2--1-------------------------| D|----------------1--2--4-----------------------------------------------------4--2--1----------------| A|----------2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------4--2----------| E|-2--4--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------5--4--2-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------4--5--7--5--4-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------4--5--7-----------------7--5--4----------------------------------| G|----------------------------4--6-----------------------------------6--4----------------------------| D|-------------------4--6--7-----------------------------------------------7--6--4-------------------| A|----------4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------------------7--6--4----------| E|-4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--4-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------5--7--9--7--5----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------5--7--9-----------------9--7--5-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------6--8--9-----------------------------------9--8--6----------------------------| D|-------------------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------9--7--6-------------------| A|----------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6----------| E|-5--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--7--5-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-11-12-11--9-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------9-10-12----------------12-10--9----------------------------------| G|-------------------------8--9-11----------------------------------11--9--8-------------------------| D|-------------------9-11----------------------------------------------------11--9-------------------| A|----------9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9----------| E|-9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------11-12-14-12-11----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------10-12-14----------------14-12-10-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------11-13-14----------------------------------14-13-11----------------------------| D|------------------11-13-14----------------------------------------------------14-13-11-------------------| A|---------11-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------14-12-11----------| E|11-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-12-11-|
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