stringery

B dorian

Minor with a brighter 6th: funk, jazz and Santana. Minor 7 family

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position5 of 5

571012

Square: the root. In colour: the 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. BRW
  2. C♯2H
  3. D♭3W
  4. E4W
  5. F♯5W
  6. G♯6H
  7. A♭7W

It is natural minor with the 6th raised one fret, which takes the sadness out and leaves the cool.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckB dorian

12345GCEA5710126♭7R2♭3452♭3456♭7R456♭7R2♭34♭7R2♭3456♭7
12345GCEA5710126♭7R2♭3452♭3456♭7R456♭7R2♭34♭7R2♭3456♭7

Position 5 is outlined, frets 11 to 12. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The B dorian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. Bmi
  2. C♯mii
  3. DIII
  4. EIV
  5. F♯mv
  6. G♯dimvi°
  7. AVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • A major

    Same notes, but home is A: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • F♯ minor

    Same notes, but home is F♯: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • E mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is E: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • D lydian

    Same notes, but home is D: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • C♯ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is C♯: dark, spanish, menacing.