What notes are in the A♭ Dorian scale?

A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F and G♭, and then A♭ again an octave higher.

What is the pattern of the A♭ Dorian scale?

W – H – W – W – W – H – W. W = whole step (two keys), H = half step (the very next key). The same pattern gives you the Dorian scale on any starting note.

Which major scale has the same notes as A♭ Dorian?

G♭ major. A♭ Dorian uses its notes but treats A♭ as home, which gives it a different sound.

Scale

A♭ Dorian scale

The A♭ Dorian scale has 7 notes: A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F and G♭.

Notes: A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭
Step pattern: W – H – W – W – W – H – W

W = whole step (two keys), H = half step (the very next key).

Play it yourself

Play the scale going up: start on A♭ and tap each note in order.

A♭
B♭
C♭
D♭
E♭
F
G♭

0 of 7 notes

Dorian is a minor mode with a raised 6th. That brighter 6th makes it sound minor but hopeful, and it is all over funk, soul, jazz and songs like "So What".

Chords in A♭ Dorian

Build a chord on each note of the scale using only notes from the scale, and you get these seven. The Roman numeral shows the step it is built on: upper case for major, lower case for minor.

i · A♭m
ii · B♭m
III · C♭
IV · D♭
v · E♭m
vi° · Fdim
VII · G♭