F♭ Dorian Scale
The F♭ Dorian scale is the 2nd mode of the E♭♭ major scale, giving it a distinctive minor sound characterized by its raised 6th degree. This combination of a minor 3rd with a major 6th creates a smooth, versatile quality often heard in jazz, funk, folk, and rock, among other genres.
This page covers everything you need to know about the F♭ Dorian scale: notes, intervals, theory, and how to play it on the piano.
F♭ Dorian Scale Notes
The F♭ Dorian scale contains the following notes:
F♭ – G♭ – A♭♭ – B♭♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭♭These notes come directly from the E♭♭ major parent scale, starting on its 2nd degree (F♭).
F♭ Dorian Piano Diagram
This diagram highlights which keys belong to the F♭ Dorian scale, which is helpful for visualizing whole steps, half steps, and the overall shape of the scale on the keyboard.
F♭ Dorian Scale Formula and Intervals
The interval formula for the Dorian scale is:
W – H – W – W – W – H – WApplied to F♭, this gives us:
- F♭ → G♭
- G♭ → A♭♭
- A♭♭ → B♭♭
- B♭♭ → C♭
- C♭ → D♭
- D♭ → E♭♭
- E♭♭ → F♭
Thus, F♭ Dorian is built with the following scale degrees:
- Root (F♭)
- Major 2nd (G♭)
- Minor 3rd (A♭♭)
- Perfect 4th (B♭♭)
- Perfect 5th (C♭)
- Major 6th (D♭)
- Minor 7th (E♭♭)
This structure, especially the combination of the minor 3rd with the major 6th, gives the Dorian mode its characteristic quality.
Chords in the Key of F♭ Dorian
When stacking thirds on each scale degree of the F♭ Dorian scale, the following diatonic triads emerge:
- F♭ minor (i)
- G♭ minor (ii)
- A♭♭ major (III)
- B♭♭ major (IV)
- C♭ minor (v)
- D♭ diminished (vi°)
- E♭♭ major (VII)
Related Scales and Modes
If you enjoy playing in F♭ Dorian, you may also like:
- F♭ minor (F♭ Dorian with a flat 6th)
- F♭ Mixolydian (Dorian with a raised 3rd)
- E♭♭ major (parent scale)
F♭ Dorian Scale FAQs
How is F♭ Dorian different from F♭ major?
F♭ Dorian has a minor 3rd (A♭♭) and minor 7th (E♭♭), while F♭ major has a major 3rd (A♭) and major 7th (E♭).
How is F♭ Dorian different from F♭ minor?
F♭ Dorian has a major 6th (D♭), while F♭ minor has a minor 6th (D♭♭).
What is the parent scale of F♭ Dorian?
E♭♭ major. F♭ Dorian uses the same notes as E♭♭ major, but starts on its 2nd degree (F♭).
Summary: F♭ Dorian Scale
- Notes: F♭, G♭, A♭♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭♭
- Mode: 2nd mode of E♭♭ major
- Formula: W, H, W, W, W, H, W