STRINGSCALES

B dorian #4 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E#, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10

A string: A, B, C#, D, E#, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, E#, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G#, A, B, C#, D, E#, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

B string: B, C#, D, E#, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E#, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10

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B dorian #4

The dorian #4 scale, the fourth mode of the harmonic minor scale, is also known as the ukrainian dorian or romanian minor scale. Dorian's minor-with-a-bright-6th frame gets a raised 4th, producing the klezmer and Eastern European fiddle sound. The #4 pulls up to the 5th while the b3 keeps it minor: instant folk drama over a minor chord.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B

i

Bm
C♯

II

C♯maj
D

bIII

Dmaj
E♯

#iv°

E♯dim
F♯

v

F♯m
G♯

vi°

G♯dim
A

bVII+

Aaug

Characteristic note: F (#4), the raised fourth over a dorian base, the Ukrainian dorian sound.

Same notes, different mode

B dorian #4 uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

C# phrygian dominantD lydian #9E# ultralocrianF# harmonic minorG# locrian 6A major augmented

dorian #4 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • The klezmer move: bIII (D) up to #IV (F), an augmented 2nd inside a minor scale with a bright 6th; practice it as a slide on one string.
  • It is harmonic minor's fourth mode: B dorian #4 (F) equals the harmonic minor a 4th below, so fingerings transfer.
  • Resolve #IV (F) up to V constantly; that pull against the minor 3rd is the Eastern European fiddle sound.
  • Over a m6 or m7 vamp, alternate plain dorian and dorian #4 (F): moving one note in and out keeps a long solo alive.

How to play B dorian #4 on guitar

Root here is the open B string, and open A and D sit under it at a minor seventh and a minor third, so three strings drone untouched. Capo fret 2 and A shapes cover it, which lets you play 4 sharps without new fingerings. Roots on the E strings wait until fret 7. Aaug takes the bVII+, E#dim the #iv, and neither one resolves the way a dominant would.

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