Notes in the A♭ Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | Tonic |
| 2 | B♭ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | C♭ | Mediant |
| 4 | D♭ | Subdominant |
| 5 | E♭ | Dominant |
| 6 | F | Submediant |
| ♭7 | G♭ | Subtonic |
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 scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – H – 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 scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | A♭m | A♭m7 |
| ii | B♭m | B♭m7 |
| III | C♭ | C♭maj7 |
| IV | D♭ | D♭7 |
| v | E♭m | E♭m7 |
| vi° | F° | Fø7 |
| VII | G♭ | G♭maj7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: G♭ Major, which has exactly the same notes as A♭ Dorian.
How to practise the A♭ Dorian scale
Learn each mode by its characteristic note: the one that makes it different from the major or minor scale it most resembles. Play a drone on the tonic while you play the scale to hear its colour.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the A♭ Dorian scale?
The notes of the A♭ Dorian scale are A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭.
What is the formula for the A♭ Dorian scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is W – H – 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 scale?
Built from the scale in triads: A♭m, B♭m, C♭, D♭, E♭m, F°, G♭.
More A♭ scales
A♭ Major, A♭ Natural Minor, A♭ Harmonic Minor, A♭ Melodic Minor, A♭ Lydian, A♭ Mixolydian, A♭ Major Pentatonic, A♭ Minor Pentatonic, A♭ Lydian Dominant, A♭ Whole Tone, A♭ Lydian Augmented, A♭ Mixolydian ♭6, A♭ Hungarian Minor, 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.