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