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B♭ dorian scale on guitar
B♭ dorian uses B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, and A♭. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 6 for a compact shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ dorian scale on guitar?
B♭ dorian in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 4 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ dorian in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 17 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the G string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ dorian in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 15 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the D string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ dorian in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 17 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the D string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 11 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B♭ dorian in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 13 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 13 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ dorian is B♭ natural minor with the sixth raised from G♭ to G. The pattern is W, H, W, W, W, H, W, giving intervals 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7. Compare it with B♭ natural minor to hear the brightened sixth.
When to use it
B♭ dorian fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. Use it over vamps in B♭ minor, modal rock, and funk lines. The G adds a major sixth colour that natural minor lacks.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 6, covering frets 1–4 and setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ dorian?
B♭ dorian contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, and A♭. The scale degrees are 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7. It differs from B♭ natural minor by one note: G instead of G♭. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords work with B♭ dorian?
B♭ dorian works over B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. The raised sixth, G, fits the ii chord C minor and the IV chord E♭ major. Avoid chords that clash with the G.
What is the difference between B♭ dorian and B♭ natural minor?
B♭ dorian raises the sixth degree from G♭ to G. This changes the scale's colour from minor to a brighter, modal sound. The rest of the notes remain the same.