Interactive piano keyboard showing Bb Dorian scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
B♭ dorian (B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭) is a jazz and blues staple with four flats and a major 6th (G) that adds warmth to the B♭ minor tonality. It sits naturally on trumpet and saxophone, making it a first choice for wind players over B♭m7 chords. B♭ dorian is common in jazz standards and soul music.
Dorian differs from natural minor by its major 6th — a single interval that transforms dark melancholy into hopeful brightness. This is why Dorian feels like “minor with optimism,” the go-to mode for jazz, funk, and soul grooves.
The seven diatonic modes — parallel modes starting from the same root with different interval patterns. Each mode has a unique character derived from the major scale.
The diatonic chords in Bb Dorian are: Bbm, Cm, Db, Eb, Fm, Gdim, Ab. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Dorian?
B♭ dorian (B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭) is a jazz and blues staple with four flats and a major 6th (G) that adds warmth to the B♭ minor tonality. It sits naturally on trumpet and saxophone, making it a first choice for wind players over B♭m7 chords. B♭ dorian is common in jazz standards and soul music.
What notes are in the Bb Dorian?
The Bb Dorian contains the notes: Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab. This is a 7-note scale starting from Bb.
How many chords does the Bb Dorian have?
The Bb Dorian produces 7 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: Bbm, Cm, Db, Eb, Fm, Gdim, Ab.
What is the formula for the Dorian?
The Dorian follows the interval formula: W-H-W-W-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
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Position in circle of fifths
Bb is at the 10 o'clock position. Related keys: F (dominant), Eb (subdominant), G (relative minor), C (supertonic), Ab (subtonic).