Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
B♭ Dorian ♭2
♭2 together with a natural 6th. Dark yet smooth.
Where you hear it: Over m7(♭9) and sus♭9 chords.
Step pattern H – W – W – W – W – H – W
- Parent scale: A♭ melodic minor (starts on its 2nd degree)
- Compared with B♭ major: ♭2 C → C♭, ♭3 D → D♭, ♭7 A → A♭
- Compared with B♭ natural minor: ♭2 C → C♭, ♯6 G♭ → G
B♭ Dorian ♭2 on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the minor pentatonic: playedother notes of Dorian ♭2: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as B♭ Dorian ♭2
Every chord in B♭ Dorian ♭2
- B♭m71/15easyfret 1· shell
- C♭maj7♯51/10easyfret 7· shell
- D♭71/20easyfret 6· shell
- E♭71/18easyfret 8· shell
- Fm7♭51/15easyfret 1· shell
- Gm7♭51/12easyfret 3· shell
- A♭m(maj7)1/6mediumfret 11
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in B♭ Dorian ♭2
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
i – ♭II+
A half step up to the augmented ♭II and back: Phrygian’s dark step with a natural 6th over it.
i – IV
A minor tonic and a dominant IV7. The IV7 carries the natural 6th, as in Dorian, but the ♭2 stays in the scale.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From B♭m you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of B♭ Dorian ♭2.
Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.