Dorian · B · Guitar
The B Dorian scale is B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A — formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7, step pattern W–H–W–W–W–H–W. Use it over Bm7: it is the scale for minor-seventh chords, especially the ii chord in a major ii–V–I and modal minor vamps. Below, every note is marked on the fretboard in standard tuning; press play to hear it on a synthesized guitar while each note lights up, or tap any fret to sound that note.
Visualizer
Guitar · standard tuning
Piano
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass) in the position starting at fret 7. “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Reference
| Degree | Note | Interval from B | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | C♯ | major 2nd (2 semitones) | H |
| ♭3 | D | minor 3rd (3 semitones) | W |
| 4 | E | perfect 4th (5 semitones) | W |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | W |
| 6 | G♯ | major 6th (9 semitones) | H |
| ♭7 | A | minor 7th (10 semitones) | W |
Chord it implies: Bm7 (B – D – F♯ – A). Use it for: minor-seventh chords, especially the ii chord in a major ii–V–I and modal minor vamps.
Common questions
B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A. As scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7. It has 7 notes.
B Dorian fits Bm7 and, more generally, minor-seventh chords, especially the ii chord in a major ii–V–I and modal minor vamps.
1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 — the step pattern from the root is W H W W W H W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Start on the root B on the low E string at fret 7, and play the one-octave position shown: E-string fret 7, E-string fret 9, E-string fret 10, A-string fret 7, A-string fret 9, A-string fret 11, D-string fret 7, D-string fret 9. Every B on the neck is a root, so the same shape works in every position where the notes are marked.
Keep going
Same scale on piano · all Dorian pages: Dorian hub · practise it in context: ii–V–I trainer · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from B