Notes in the D♭ Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♭ | Tonic |
| 2 | E♭ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | F♭ | Mediant |
| 4 | G♭ | Subdominant |
| 5 | A♭ | Dominant |
| 6 | B♭ | Submediant |
| ♭7 | C♭ | Subtonic |
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 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 D♭ Dorian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | D♭m | D♭m7 |
| ii | E♭m | E♭m7 |
| III | F♭ | F♭maj7 |
| IV | G♭ | G♭7 |
| v | A♭m | A♭m7 |
| vi° | B♭° | B♭ø7 |
| VII | C♭ | C♭maj7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: C♭ Major, which has exactly the same notes as D♭ Dorian.
How to practise the D♭ 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 D♭ Dorian scale?
The notes of the D♭ Dorian scale are D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭.
What is the formula for the D♭ 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 D♭ Dorian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: D♭m, E♭m, F♭, G♭, A♭m, B♭°, C♭.
More D♭ scales
D♭ Major, D♭ Melodic Minor, D♭ Lydian, D♭ Mixolydian, D♭ Major Pentatonic, D♭ Minor Pentatonic, D♭ Lydian Dominant, D♭ Whole Tone, D♭ Lydian Augmented, D♭ Bebop Dominant
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.