Learn the B♭ Dorian scale — notes, intervals, chords, modes, and more.
The B♭ Dorian scale contains the following notes:
B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A♭The scale degrees of the B♭ Dorian scale are:
1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7| Scale Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ |
| 2 | C |
| ♭3 | D♭ |
| 4 | E♭ |
| 5 | F |
| 6 | G |
| ♭7 | A♭ |
The B♭ Dorian scale uses the interval pattern W, H, W, W, W, H, W
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | C | W |
| C | D♭ | H |
| D♭ | E♭ | W |
| E♭ | F | W |
| F | G | W |
| G | A♭ | H |
| A♭ | B♭ | W |
| Scale Degree | Note | Interval from B♭ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | Perfect Unison |
| 2 | C | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | D♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | E♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | F | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | G | Major 6th |
| ♭7 | A♭ | Minor 7th |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | B♭m | B♭, D♭, F |
| ii | Cm | C, E♭, G |
| III | D♭ | D♭, F, A♭ |
| IV | E♭ | E♭, G, B♭ |
| v | Fm | F, A♭, C |
| vi° | Gdim | G, B♭, D♭ |
| VII | A♭ | A♭, C, E♭ |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | B♭m7 | B♭, D♭, F, A♭ |
| ii7 | Cm7 | C, E♭, G, B♭ |
| IIImaj7 | D♭maj7 | D♭, F, A♭, C |
| IV7 | E♭7 | E♭, G, B♭, D♭ |
| v7 | Fm7 | F, A♭, C, E♭ |
| viø7 | Gm7♭5 | G, B♭, D♭, F |
| VIImaj7 | A♭maj7 | A♭, C, E♭, G |
The modes of B♭ Dorian use the same notes but start on different scale degrees.
| Mode | Starting note | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ Ionian | A♭ | A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G |
| B♭ Dorian | B♭ | B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭ |
| C Phrygian | C | C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭ |
| D♭ Lydian | D♭ | D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C |
| E♭ Mixolydian | E♭ | E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭ |
| F Aeolian | F | F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭ |
| G Locrian | G | G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F |
B♭ Dorian is the 2nd mode of the A♭ major scale. Both share the same 7 notes — Dorian simply starts on the 2nd degree (B♭) instead of the root (A♭).
The only difference is the 6th degree. B♭ Dorian has a major 6th (G), while B♭ natural minor has a minor 6th. That raised 6th gives Dorian a brighter, slightly more hopeful character compared to natural minor's darker sound.
B♭ Dorian has a minor 3rd (D♭) and a minor 7th (A♭), while B♭ major has a major 3rd and major 7th. This gives Dorian a minor quality overall, but its major 6th (G) keeps it from sounding as dark as natural minor.