B 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

EADGBEFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭FGCD♭E♭FGA♭B♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭0123456789101112

Position from fret 5

EADGBEB♭CD♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭56789

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
1B♭ (B flat)root
2Cmajor second
3D♭ (D flat)minor third
4E♭ (E flat)perfect fourth
5Fperfect fifth
6Gmajor sixth
7A♭ (A 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 A flat major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. B♭mi
  2. Cmii
  3. D♭III
  4. E♭IV
  5. Fmv
  6. Gdimvi°
  7. A♭VII

Other B♭ scales

The same scale in other keys