Bb Dorian
A minor diatonic mode with a major 6th; brighter than natural minor.
Octaves
Musical context
How the mode relates to the scale, chord, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Bb Dorian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – H – W – W – W – H – W
Notes & degrees
1Bbroot
2Cmajor 2nd
b3Dbminor 3rd
4Ebperfect 4th
5Fperfect 5th
6Gmajor 6th
b7Abminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
VIGraised 6th degree
Construction
- Overview
- A minor diatonic mode with a major 6th; brighter than natural minor.
- Application in music
- Pairs with m6 and m13 chords and is used in modal jazz, funk and fusion.
- Interval formula
- BbWCHDbWEbWFWGHAb
- Reference mode
- Bb Aeolian
Bb Aeolian
IBb
IIC
IIIDb
IVEb
VF
VIGb
VIIAb
Bb Dorian
IBb
IIC
IIIDb
IVEb
VF
VIG
VIIAb
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 2 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- Ab majorDorian mode — degree 2 of the scale
- Parallel major
- Bb majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBbpoint of resttonic
IIIDbdefines modal qualitythird
VFsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIDbDb
IVEbEb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IBbBb
IICC
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how Bb Dorian looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.