Learn the A♭ Dorian scale — notes, intervals, chords, modes, and more.
The A♭ Dorian scale contains the following notes:
A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭The scale degrees of the A♭ Dorian scale are:
1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7| Scale Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ |
| 2 | B♭ |
| ♭3 | C♭ |
| 4 | D♭ |
| 5 | E♭ |
| 6 | F |
| ♭7 | G♭ |
The A♭ Dorian scale uses the interval pattern W, H, W, W, W, H, W
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | B♭ | W |
| B♭ | C♭ | H |
| C♭ | D♭ | W |
| D♭ | E♭ | W |
| E♭ | F | W |
| F | G♭ | H |
| G♭ | A♭ | W |
| Scale Degree | Note | Interval from A♭ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | Perfect Unison |
| 2 | B♭ | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | C♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | D♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F | Major 6th |
| ♭7 | G♭ | Minor 7th |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | A♭m | A♭, C♭, E♭ |
| ii | B♭m | B♭, D♭, F |
| III | C♭ | C♭, E♭, G♭ |
| IV | D♭ | D♭, F, A♭ |
| v | E♭m | E♭, G♭, B♭ |
| vi° | Fdim | F, A♭, C♭ |
| VII | G♭ | G♭, B♭, D♭ |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | A♭m7 | A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭ |
| ii7 | B♭m7 | B♭, D♭, F, A♭ |
| IIImaj7 | C♭maj7 | C♭, E♭, G♭, B♭ |
| IV7 | D♭7 | D♭, F, A♭, C♭ |
| v7 | E♭m7 | E♭, G♭, B♭, D♭ |
| viø7 | Fm7♭5 | F, A♭, C♭, E♭ |
| VIImaj7 | G♭maj7 | G♭, B♭, D♭, F |
The modes of A♭ Dorian use the same notes but start on different scale degrees.
| Mode | Starting note | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| G♭ Ionian | G♭ | G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F |
| A♭ Dorian | A♭ | A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G♭ |
| B♭ Phrygian | B♭ | B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭ |
| C♭ Lydian | C♭ | C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭ |
| D♭ Mixolydian | D♭ | D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| E♭ Aeolian | E♭ | E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| F Locrian | F | F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭ |
A♭ Dorian is the 2nd mode of the G♭ major scale. Both share the same 7 notes — Dorian simply starts on the 2nd degree (A♭) instead of the root (G♭).
The only difference is the 6th degree. A♭ Dorian has a major 6th (F), while A♭ natural minor has a minor 6th. That raised 6th gives Dorian a brighter, slightly more hopeful character compared to natural minor's darker sound.
A♭ Dorian has a minor 3rd (C♭) and a minor 7th (G♭), while A♭ major has a major 3rd and major 7th. This gives Dorian a minor quality overall, but its major 6th (F) keeps it from sounding as dark as natural minor.