stringery

E♭ dorian

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

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position2 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. E♭RW
  2. F2H
  3. G♭♭3W
  4. A♭4W
  5. B♭5W
  6. C6H
  7. D♭♭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 neckE♭ dorian

12345GCEA571012456♭7R2♭36♭7R2♭34562♭3456♭7R56♭7R2♭34
12345GCEA571012456♭7R2♭36♭7R2♭34562♭3456♭7R56♭7R2♭34

Position 2 is outlined, frets 3 to 6. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The E♭ dorian key

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

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

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • D♭ major

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

  • B♭ minor

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

  • A♭ mixolydian

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

  • F♯ lydian

    Same notes, but home is F♯: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • F phrygian

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