B Dorian scale

3 sharps: C♯ F♯ G♯ · pattern W–H–W–W–W–H–W

B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A

Step patternWHWWWHW

Chords in B Dorian

iBm

iiC♯m

IIID

IVE

vF♯m

vi°G♯dim

VIIA

Scale degrees

Degree	Note	Name	Half steps from B
1	B	Tonic	0
2	C♯	Supertonic	2
3	D	Mediant	3
4	E	Subdominant	5
5	F♯	Dominant	7
6	G♯	Submediant	9
7	A	Subtonic	10

About this scale

Dorian is natural minor with a raised 6th (G♯), which gives it a brighter, hopeful minor sound heard in funk, jazz and songs like “Scarborough Fair”. It’s the 2nd mode of G𝄪 major.

Seventh chords in B Dorian scale

i7 Bm7ii7 C♯m7IIImaj7 Dmaj7IV7 E7v7 F♯m7viø7 G♯m7♭5VIImaj7 Amaj7

Other B scales

B major B natural minor B harmonic minor B melodic minor B major pentatonic B minor pentatonic B blues B Mixolydian

Dorian scale in other keys

C C♯D E♭E F F♯G A♭A B♭

Questions

What are the notes of the B Dorian scale?

B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A, and back to B.

How many sharps or flats are in B Dorian scale?

3: C♯, F♯, G♯.

What is the step pattern of the Dorian scale?

W–H–W–W–W–H–W, where W is a whole step (two keys) and H is a half step (the next key). Start that pattern on B to get this scale.