What notes are in the B♭ Dorian scale?

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

What is the pattern of the B♭ 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 B♭ Dorian?

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

Scale

B♭ Dorian scale

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

Notes: B♭ · C · D♭ · E♭ · F · G · A♭
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 B♭ and tap each note in order.

B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G
A♭

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 B♭ 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 · B♭m
ii · Cm
III · D♭
IV · E♭
v · Fm
vi° · Gdim
VII · A♭