B Dorian Mode
Notes in the B Dorian Mode
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | C# | 277.183 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | G# | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | A | 440.000 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | C# |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C# | D |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | F# |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F# | G# |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G# | A |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | B minor | minor |
| 2 | C# | C# minor | minor |
| ♭3 | D | D | major |
| 4 | E | E | major |
| 5 | F# | F# minor | minor |
| 6 | G# | G# diminished | diminished |
| ♭7 | A | A | major |
Key Signature
5 ♯ — The B key signature uses F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
B Dorian Mode in Practice
The B Dorian Mode uses the key signature of 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#). B major has five sharps and a bright, somewhat tense quality. Enharmonically equivalent to Cb major, it is used in orchestral writing and some jazz compositions. On guitar, B positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.
The Dorian mode is a minor scale with a raised 6th degree, giving it a slightly brighter quality than natural minor. It is the characteristic sound of jazz and Celtic music.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C# | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G# | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: B Dorian Mode Positions
The B key offers 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like B are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.