B♯ Dorian at a glance
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood. Built on the root B♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B♯ C𝄪 D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G𝄪 A♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m |
| Step pattern | W H W W W H W |
| Chords in the key | B♯mC𝄪mD♯E♯F𝄪mG𝄪°A♯ |
Chords in the B♯ Dorian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♯ Dorian on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♯ Dorian uses two black keys (D♯ and A♯) and five white. B♯, C𝄪, E♯, F𝄪 and G𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, D, F, G and A.
B♯ · C𝄪 · D♯ · E♯ · F𝄪 · G𝄪 · A♯
Try B♯ Dorian on the virtual piano
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B♯ Dorian on the guitar
B♯ Dorian - fr 0–12
B♯ Dorian on the staff
Notes of the B♯ Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C𝄪 | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | D♯ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | E♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F𝄪 | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | G𝄪 | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | A♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes B♯ Dorian different
Dorian is a minor mode with a major sixth, and that one note is all that separates it from natural minor. Because of the major sixth, the IV chord is major rather than minor, and the i to IV vamp is the sound most people recognise as Dorian. It's the second mode of the major scale, so it has the same notes as the major scale a whole step below its root. Its step pattern (W H W W W H W) reads the same forwards and backwards, and it's the brightest of the three common minor modes. On B♯, B♯ Dorian has G𝄪 where B♯ Natural Minor has G♯; every other note is shared with B♯ Natural Minor (B♯ C𝄪 D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯).
Modes from B♯ Dorian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the B♯ Dorian scale
The diatonic chords of B♯ Dorian are: i = B♯m, ii = C𝄪m, III = D♯, IV = E♯, v = F𝄪m, vi° = G𝄪°, VII = A♯. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♯ Dorian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood.
Practice tips
Solo over a minor 7 chord using only dorian notes. That raised sixth makes phrases sound bright without losing the minor character.
Formula & step pattern
The B♯ Dorian scale follows a minor scale with a raised sixth degree (W-H-W-W-W-H-W). Step pattern: W - H - W - W - W - H - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear B♯ Dorian
Start with the music described above: listen for B♯ Dorian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the B♯ Dorian scale?
The B♯ Dorian scale contains B♯, C𝄪, D♯, E♯, F𝄪, G𝄪 and A♯.
What is the formula for the B♯ Dorian scale?
B♯ Dorian follows a minor scale with a raised sixth degree (W-H-W-W-W-H-W).
Is B♯ Dorian a major or minor scale?
B♯ Dorian is a dorian scale. Minor scale with a bright raised sixth - sophisticated and groove-friendly.
What chords belong to the B♯ Dorian scale?
The diatonic chords of B♯ Dorian are B♯m, C𝄪m, D♯, E♯, F𝄪m, G𝄪°, A♯.
Which genres use B♯ Dorian?
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood.
How do you play the B♯ Dorian scale on the piano?
On the piano B♯ Dorian uses two black keys (D♯ and A♯) and five white. B♯, C𝄪, E♯, F𝄪 and G𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, D, F, G and A.
What is the difference between B♯ Dorian and B♯ Natural Minor?
On B♯, B♯ Dorian has G𝄪 where B♯ Natural Minor has G♯; every other note is shared with B♯ Natural Minor (B♯ C𝄪 D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯).
How do I practise the B♯ Dorian scale?
Solo over a minor 7 chord using only dorian notes. That raised sixth makes phrases sound bright without losing the minor character.