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Scale · 7 notes

A Dorian ♭2 Scale

A Dorian ♭2 is a 7-note scale with the notes A B♭ C D E F♯ G. It sounds the second mode of melodic minor: Dorian with a flat 2nd, dark and exotic, used over sus♭9 chords.

CDEGAF♯B♭

Purple = A (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every A dorian ♭2 note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEGAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯G

Blue = A (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the A Dorian ♭2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1ATonic
♭2B♭Supertonic
♭3CMediant
4DSubdominant
5EDominant
6F♯Submediant
♭7GSubtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B♭ C D E F♯ G.

A Dorian ♭2 scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W – W – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.

Chords in the A Dorian ♭2 scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
iAmAm7
II+B♭+B♭7♯5
IIICC7
IVDD7
v°E°Eø7
vi°F♯°F♯ø7
viiGmGm(maj7)

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the A Dorian ♭2 scale

Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the A Dorian ♭2 scale?

The notes of the A Dorian ♭2 scale are A B♭ C D E F♯ G.

What is the formula for the A Dorian ♭2 scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W – W – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7.

What chords are in the A Dorian ♭2 scale?

Built from the scale in triads: Am, B♭+, C, D, E°, F♯°, Gm.

More A scales

A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.