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Scale · 7 notes

D Dorian ♭2 Scale

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

CDFGABE♭

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDE♭FGABCDFGABCDE♭FG

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

Notes in the D Dorian ♭2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1DTonic
♭2E♭Supertonic
♭3FMediant
4GSubdominant
5ADominant
6BSubmediant
♭7CSubtonic

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

D 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 D Dorian ♭2 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
iDmDm7
II+E♭+E♭7♯5
IIIFF7
IVGG7
v°A°Aø7
vi°B°Bø7
viiCmCm(maj7)

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

How to practise the D 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 D Dorian ♭2 scale?

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

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

Built from the scale in triads: Dm, E♭+, F, G, A°, B°, Cm.

More D scales

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