E♭ Dorian Scale: Notes, Chords, Piano & Guitar

E♭ 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 E♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where E♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.

E♭ Dorian at a glance
Notes	E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭
Formula	1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m
Step pattern	W H W W W H W
Chords in the key	E♭m Fm G♭A♭B♭m C°D♭

Chords in the E♭ Dorian scale

These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.

E♭ Dorian on the piano

Tempo96 BPM

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Improvisation drone · E♭

Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.

On the piano E♭ Dorian uses five black keys (E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭ and D♭) and two white.

E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C · D♭

Try E♭ Dorian on the virtual piano

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E♭ Dorian on the guitar

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E♭ Dorian - fr 0–12

E♭ Dorian on the staff

Notes of the E♭ Dorian scale

Degree	Note	Interval	Semitones
1	E♭	unison1P	0
2	F	major 2nd2M	2
3	G♭	minor 3rd3m	3
4	A♭	perfect 4th4P	5
5	B♭	perfect 5th5P	7
6	C	major 6th6M	9
7	D♭	minor 7th7m	10

What makes E♭ 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 E♭, E♭ Dorian has C where E♭ Natural Minor has C♭; every other note is shared with E♭ Natural Minor (E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭).

Modes from E♭ Dorian

Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.

How to use the E♭ Dorian scale

The diatonic chords of E♭ Dorian are: i = E♭m, ii = Fm, III = G♭, IV = A♭, v = B♭m, vi° = C°, VII = D♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in E♭ 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 E♭ 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 E♭ Dorian

Start with the music described above: listen for E♭ 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 E♭ Dorian scale?

The E♭ Dorian scale contains E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C and D♭.

What is the formula for the E♭ Dorian scale?

E♭ Dorian follows a minor scale with a raised sixth degree (W-H-W-W-W-H-W).

Is E♭ Dorian a major or minor scale?

E♭ Dorian is a dorian scale. Minor scale with a bright raised sixth - sophisticated and groove-friendly.

What chords belong to the E♭ Dorian scale?

The diatonic chords of E♭ Dorian are E♭m, Fm, G♭, A♭, B♭m, C°, D♭.

Which genres use E♭ Dorian?