Notes in the F Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Tonic |
| 2 | G | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | A♭ | Mediant |
| 4 | B♭ | Subdominant |
| 5 | C | Dominant |
| 6 | D | Submediant |
| ♭7 | E♭ | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭.
F 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 F Dorian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Fm | Fm7 |
| ii | Gm | Gm7 |
| III | A♭ | A♭maj7 |
| IV | B♭ | B♭7 |
| v | Cm | Cm7 |
| vi° | D° | Dø7 |
| VII | E♭ | E♭maj7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: E♭ Major, which has exactly the same notes as F Dorian.
How to practise the F 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 F Dorian scale?
The notes of the F Dorian scale are F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭.
What is the formula for the F 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 F Dorian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Fm, Gm, A♭, B♭, Cm, D°, E♭.
More F scales
F Major, F Natural Minor, F Harmonic Minor, F Melodic Minor, F Phrygian, F Lydian, F Mixolydian, F Locrian, F Major Pentatonic, F Minor Pentatonic, F Blues, F Lydian Dominant, F Whole Tone, F Dorian ♭2, F Lydian Augmented, F Mixolydian ♭6, F Locrian ♯2, F Phrygian Dominant, F Hungarian Minor, F Double Harmonic, F Diminished (W–H), F Diminished (H–W), F Bebop Dominant, F 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.