B♭ Dorian Scale on Guitar
The B♭ Dorian scale contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G and A♭ — 7 notes. Every position is marked across the whole fretboard below, labelled with note names and with interval numbers, and the tuning of each string can be changed.
| Degree | 1 | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | B♭ | C | D♭ | E♭ | F | G | A♭ |
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Minor 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Minor 7th |
Note names
Interval numbers
Circle of fifths
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B♭ Dorian scale?
B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G and A♭. That is 7 notes.
What is the interval pattern of the B♭ Dorian scale?
2-1-2-2-2-1-2, counting in semitones from the root: B♭ to C is 2 semitones, C to D♭ is 1, D♭ to E♭ is 2, E♭ to F is 2, F to G is 2, G to A♭ is 1 and A♭ back up to B♭ is 2.
Which chords go with the B♭ Dorian scale?
The triads built from its own notes: B♭m, Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, G° and A♭. Those are the chords that will sound consonant over it.
Which major scale is the B♭ Dorian scale a mode of?
A♭ major — B♭ Dorian is its second mode. Both contain the same 7 notes; only the note that feels like home is different.
Which smaller scales fit inside the B♭ Dorian scale?
D♭ Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, E♭ Dominant Pentatonic (Mixolydian Pentatonic) and B♭ Minor Sixth Pentatonic. Every note of those is also in the B♭ Dorian scale, so they can be played over it.
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