A flat Dorian mode on guitar

The Dorian mode is a minor scale with a major sixth. Brighter than the natural minor, it is widely used in jazz, funk and rock.

On the whole neck

EADGBEFG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭0123456789101112

Position from fret 3

EADGBEA♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭34567

Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1A♭ (A flat)root
2B♭ (B flat)major second
3C♭ (C flat)minor third
4D♭ (D flat)perfect fourth
5E♭ (E flat)perfect fifth
6Fmajor sixth
7G♭ (G flat)minor seventh

Steps between notes: W – H – W – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

This mode uses the same notes as the F sharp major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. A♭mi
  2. B♭mii
  3. C♭III
  4. D♭IV
  5. E♭mv
  6. Fdimvi°
  7. G♭VII

Other A♭ scales

The same scale in other keys