A♭ Dorian at a glance
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood. Built on the root A♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m |
| Step pattern | W H W W W H W |
| Chords in the key | A♭mB♭mC♭D♭E♭mF°G♭ |
Chords in the A♭ Dorian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Dorian on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Dorian uses five black keys (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and two white. C♭ is the white key you'd normally call B.
A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭
Try A♭ Dorian on the virtual piano
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A♭ Dorian on the guitar
A♭ Dorian - fr 0–12
A♭ Dorian on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | C♭ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | F | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | G♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes A♭ Dorian different
Dorian is a minor mode with a major sixth, and that one note is all that separates it from natural minor. Because of the major sixth, the IV chord is major rather than minor, and the i to IV vamp is the sound most people recognise as Dorian. It's the second mode of the major scale, so it has the same notes as the major scale a whole step below its root. Its step pattern (W H W W W H W) reads the same forwards and backwards, and it's the brightest of the three common minor modes. On A♭, A♭ Dorian has F where A♭ Natural Minor has F♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Natural Minor (A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
Modes from A♭ Dorian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the A♭ Dorian scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Dorian are: i = A♭m, ii = B♭m, III = C♭, IV = D♭, v = E♭m, vi° = F°, VII = G♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Dorian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood.
Practice tips
Solo over a minor 7 chord using only dorian notes. That raised sixth makes phrases sound bright without losing the minor character.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Dorian scale follows a minor scale with a raised sixth degree (W-H-W-W-W-H-W). Step pattern: W - H - W - W - W - H - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear A♭ Dorian
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Dorian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♭ Dorian scale?
The A♭ Dorian scale contains A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F and G♭.
What is the formula for the A♭ Dorian scale?
A♭ Dorian follows a minor scale with a raised sixth degree (W-H-W-W-W-H-W).
Is A♭ Dorian a major or minor scale?
A♭ Dorian is a dorian scale. Minor scale with a bright raised sixth - sophisticated and groove-friendly.
What chords belong to the A♭ Dorian scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Dorian are A♭m, B♭m, C♭, D♭, E♭m, F°, G♭.
Which genres use A♭ Dorian?
Dorian pops up in jazz standards, modal rock, Celtic folk, hip-hop samples and film scores. That bright sixth adds a hopeful edge to an otherwise minor mood.
How do you play the A♭ Dorian scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Dorian uses five black keys (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and two white. C♭ is the white key you'd normally call B.
What is the difference between A♭ Dorian and A♭ Natural Minor?
On A♭, A♭ Dorian has F where A♭ Natural Minor has F♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Natural Minor (A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
How do I practise the A♭ Dorian scale?
Solo over a minor 7 chord using only dorian notes. That raised sixth makes phrases sound bright without losing the minor character.