C♭ 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 C♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C♭ D♭ E𝄫 F♭ G♭ A♭ B𝄫 |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m |
| Step pattern | W H W W W H W |
| Chords in the key | C♭mD♭mE𝄫F♭G♭mA♭°B𝄫 |
Chords in the C♭ Dorian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
C♭ Dorian on the piano
Improvisation drone · C♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C♭ Dorian uses three black keys (D♭, G♭ and A♭) and four white. C♭, E𝄫, F♭ and B𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call B, D, E and A.
C♭ · D♭ · E𝄫 · F♭ · G♭ · A♭ · B𝄫
Try C♭ Dorian on the virtual piano
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C♭ Dorian on the guitar
C♭ Dorian - fr 0–12
C♭ Dorian on the staff
Notes of the C♭ Dorian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | D♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | E𝄫 | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | F♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | G♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | A♭ | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | B𝄫 | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes C♭ 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 C♭, C♭ Dorian has A♭ where C♭ Natural Minor has A𝄫; every other note is shared with C♭ Natural Minor (C♭ D♭ E𝄫 F♭ G♭ A𝄫 B𝄫).
Modes from C♭ Dorian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the C♭ Dorian scale
The diatonic chords of C♭ Dorian are: i = C♭m, ii = D♭m, III = E𝄫, IV = F♭, v = G♭m, vi° = A♭°, VII = B𝄫. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C♭ 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 C♭ 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 C♭ Dorian
Start with the music described above: listen for C♭ 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 C♭ Dorian scale?
The C♭ Dorian scale contains C♭, D♭, E𝄫, F♭, G♭, A♭ and B𝄫.
What is the formula for the C♭ Dorian scale?
C♭ Dorian follows a minor scale with a raised sixth degree (W-H-W-W-W-H-W).
Is C♭ Dorian a major or minor scale?
C♭ Dorian is a dorian scale. Minor scale with a bright raised sixth - sophisticated and groove-friendly.
What chords belong to the C♭ Dorian scale?
The diatonic chords of C♭ Dorian are C♭m, D♭m, E𝄫, F♭, G♭m, A♭°, B𝄫.
Which genres use C♭ 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 C♭ Dorian scale on the piano?
On the piano C♭ Dorian uses three black keys (D♭, G♭ and A♭) and four white. C♭, E𝄫, F♭ and B𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call B, D, E and A.
What is the difference between C♭ Dorian and C♭ Natural Minor?
On C♭, C♭ Dorian has A♭ where C♭ Natural Minor has A𝄫; every other note is shared with C♭ Natural Minor (C♭ D♭ E𝄫 F♭ G♭ A𝄫 B𝄫).
How do I practise the C♭ Dorian scale?
Solo over a minor 7 chord using only dorian notes. That raised sixth makes phrases sound bright without losing the minor character.