Skip to content
MusicTheoryGym

Scale · 7 notes

E Dorian ♭2 Scale

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

DEFGABC♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABDEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFG

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

Notes in the E Dorian ♭2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1ETonic
♭2FSupertonic
♭3GMediant
4ASubdominant
5BDominant
6C♯Submediant
♭7DSubtonic

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

E 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 E Dorian ♭2 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
iEmEm7
II+F+F7♯5
IIIGG7
IVAA7
v°B°Bø7
vi°C♯°C♯ø7
viiDmDm(maj7)

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

How to practise the E 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 E Dorian ♭2 scale?

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

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

Built from the scale in triads: Em, F+, G, A, B°, C♯°, Dm.

More E scales

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