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Scales

B♭ Dorian mode

The B♭ Dorian mode notes: B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A♭. Minor with a major 6th. Jazzier and brighter than natural minor; think funk, Latin and modal jazz.

Notes and steps

B♭1C2D♭♭3E♭4F5G6A♭♭7

Steps: W – H – W – W – W – H – W · W = whole step, H = half step

B♭ Dorian mode on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

B♭ Dorian mode on the guitar fretboardFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭FGCD♭E♭FGA♭B♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭357912

B♭ Dorian mode on piano

B♭ Dorian mode on the piano keyboardCFGCFGD♭E♭A♭B♭D♭E♭A♭B♭

Chords in this scale

iB♭mB♭m7iiCmCm7IIID♭D♭maj7IVE♭E♭7vFmFm7♯vi°GdimGm7b5VIIA♭A♭maj7

Other scales from B♭

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B♭ Dorian mode?

B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭. Step formula: W–H–W–W–W–H–W (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (B♭). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash