Interactive piano keyboard showing Eb Dorian scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
E♭ dorian (E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭) is a warm, horn-friendly scale with five flats in its key signature. Its major 6th (C) adds brightness to the otherwise dark E♭ minor tonality. Jazz and R&B saxophonists favour E♭ dorian for its rich, soulful character over E♭m7 grooves.
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 Eb Dorian are: Ebm, Fm, Gb, Ab, Bbm, Cdim, Db. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Dorian?
E♭ dorian (E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭) is a warm, horn-friendly scale with five flats in its key signature. Its major 6th (C) adds brightness to the otherwise dark E♭ minor tonality. Jazz and R&B saxophonists favour E♭ dorian for its rich, soulful character over E♭m7 grooves.
What notes are in the Eb Dorian?
The Eb Dorian contains the notes: Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db. This is a 7-note scale starting from Eb.
How many chords does the Eb Dorian have?
The Eb Dorian produces 7 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: Ebm, Fm, Gb, Ab, Bbm, Cdim, Db.
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).
Page detail levelSimple keeps pages short: extra theory and advanced controls stay tucked away until you open them. Everything shows every section and control at once.
Position in circle of fifths
Eb is at the 9 o'clock position. Related keys: Bb (dominant), Ab (subdominant), C (relative minor), F (supertonic), C# (subtonic).