A flat Dorian mode on piano

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 keyboard

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Numbers above the keys are the scale degrees; the root is filled.

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