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