B♭ Dorian mode
A minor scale with a major sixth: brighter and groovier than the natural minor. The mode of funk, soul and modal jazz.
- Notes:
- B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭.
- Formula:
- 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7.
- Style:
- Funk, soul, jazz, rock.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Its color
Dorian is a minor scale with a major sixth: here G. That one note brightens the minor sound and gives it a funky edge, less sad than the natural minor scale. It has the same notes as the A♭ major scale, but starts on B♭.
Which chords to play it over
Play it over a long B♭ minor 7 chord, or over the B♭m, E♭, B♭m, E♭ vamp. Land on G: that’s the note that makes it sound Dorian.
Where you hear it
Funk, soul, modal jazz and Latin rock. Often-cited examples: “Oye Como Va” (Santana) and “So What” (Miles Davis).
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 7 positions
Seven positions, one for each note of the mode, with three notes per string: the same shapes as the major scale, but the root (in orange) falls elsewhere. The characteristic note is in purple. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 6 to 11
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------------------8-9-11-| B|----------------------------8-9-11--------| G|---------------------6-8-10---------------| D|--------------6-8-10----------------------| A|-------6-8-10-----------------------------| E|-6-8-9------------------------------------|
Position 2: frets 8 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------------9-11-13-| B|--------------------------------9-11-13---------| G|------------------------8-10-12-----------------| D|----------------8-10-11-------------------------| A|--------8-10-11---------------------------------| E|-8-9-11-----------------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 9 to 15
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|---------------------------------------------11-13-15-| B|------------------------------------11-13-14----------| G|---------------------------10-12-13-------------------| D|------------------10-11-13----------------------------| A|---------10-11-13-------------------------------------| E|-9-11-13----------------------------------------------|
Position 4: frets 11 to 16
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------------------13-15-16-| B|-------------------------------------13-14-16----------| G|----------------------------12-13-15-------------------| D|-------------------11-13-15----------------------------| A|----------11-13-15-------------------------------------| E|-11-13-15----------------------------------------------|
Position 5: frets 1 to 6
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------3-4-6-| B|-------------------------2-4-6-------| G|-------------------1-3-5-------------| D|-------------1-3-5-------------------| A|-------1-3-4-------------------------| E|-1-3-4-------------------------------|
Position 6: frets 3 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------4-6-8-| B|-------------------------4-6-8-------| G|-------------------3-5-6-------------| D|-------------3-5-6-------------------| A|-------3-4-6-------------------------| E|-3-4-6-------------------------------|
Position 7: frets 4 to 9
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------6-8-9-| B|-------------------------6-8-9-------| G|-------------------5-6-8-------------| D|-------------5-6-8-------------------| A|-------4-6-8-------------------------| E|-4-6-8-------------------------------|