B Dorian #4 Notes and Shapes
B, C#, D, E#, F#, G# and A are the B Dorian #4 scale. E# is the raised fourth, and you fret it as F. Against the open B string it makes a tritone.
The open B, D and A strings fit the scale, and the root appears on the 7th fret of the low E string and the 2nd fret of the A string. F# harmonic minor holds the same notes. The spelling is already the easiest available, as the enharmonic Cb version needs more accidentals.
Play the B dorian #4 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the B dorian #4 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | Root | 0 |
| C# | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| D | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| E# | #4 | Tritone | 6 |
| F# | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| G# | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| A | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
B dorian #4 scale notes:
How the dorian #4 scale is built:
The dorian #4 scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W+H-H-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 4 of the Harmonic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Ukrainian Dorian and Romanian Minor.
B Dorian #4 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (B)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the B dorian #4 scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as B Dorian #4
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| C# Phrygian Dominant | 2 | Phrygian Dominant |
| D Lydian #2 | b3 | Lydian #2 Scale |
| F Super Locrian bb7 | #4 | Ultra Locrian |
| F# Harmonic Minor | 5 | Harmonic Minor |
| Ab Locrian #6 | 6 | Locrian natural 6 |
| A Ionian #5 | b7 | Ionian Augmented |
Other scales on B
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- B Gipsy Hungarian: shares 5 notes
- B Dorian: 4 instead of #4
- B Lydian Dominant: 3 instead of b3
The dorian #4 scale in other keys
Keep learning
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
