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Scale · 7 notes

G Dorian ♭2 Scale

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

CDEFGA♭B♭

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EFGA♭B♭CDEFGB♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFG

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

Notes in the G Dorian ♭2 scale

DegreeNoteName
1GTonic
♭2A♭Supertonic
♭3B♭Mediant
4CSubdominant
5DDominant
6ESubmediant
♭7FSubtonic

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

G 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 G Dorian ♭2 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
iGmGm7
II+A♭+A♭7♯5
IIIB♭B♭7
IVCC7
v°D°Dø7
vi°E°Eø7
viiFmFm(maj7)

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

How to practise the G 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 G Dorian ♭2 scale?

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

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

Built from the scale in triads: Gm, A♭+, B♭, C, D°, E°, Fm.

More G scales

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