stringery

B♭ dorian

Minor with a brighter 6th: funk, jazz and Santana. Minor 7 family

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position5 of 5

571012

Square: the root. In colour: the 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. B♭RW
  2. C2H
  3. D♭♭3W
  4. E♭4W
  5. F5W
  6. G6H
  7. A♭♭7W

It is natural minor with the 6th raised one fret, which takes the sadness out and leaves the cool.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckB♭ dorian

12345GCEA5710126♭7R2♭34562♭3456♭7R256♭7R2♭34R2♭3456♭7
12345GCEA5710126♭7R2♭34562♭3456♭7R256♭7R2♭34R2♭3456♭7

Position 5 is outlined, frets 10 to 12. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The B♭ dorian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

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

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • A♭ major

    Same notes, but home is A♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • F minor

    Same notes, but home is F: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • E♭ mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is E♭: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • D♭ lydian

    Same notes, but home is D♭: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • C phrygian

    Same notes, but home is C: dark, spanish, menacing.