Gb Dorian

The scale displayed with its numeric formula, notes, intervals and scale degrees.

Formula	Notes	Intervals	Degrees
1	Gb	Unison	Tonic
2	Ab	Major second	Supertonic
b3	Bbb	Minor third	Mediant
4	Cb	Perfect fourth	Subdominant
5	Db	Perfect fifth	Dominant
6	Eb	Sixth	Submediant
b7	Fb	Minor seventh	Subtonic

The third degree is written as Bbb, which is the same as A. The fourth degree is written as Cb, which is the same as B. The seventh degree is written as Fb, which is the same as E. A practice in a scale notation is to not include the same letter twice, if it can be avoided.

The G flat Dorian scale consists of seven notes. These can be described as steps on the guitar fingerboard according to the following formula: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half and whole from the first note to the same in the next octave.
The G flat Dorian is the second mode of the E Major Scale. It contains exactly the same notes, but starts on another note. Since Dorian has a Minor scale quality it can also be seen as a mode of the Db Minor.
The G flat Dorian can also be recognized as an Gb Major Scale with a flattened third and a flattened seventh (Bbb and Fb instead of Bb and F).
The scale is otherwise most related to the Gb Natural Minor and Gb Melodic Minor scales, which differ with just one note in both cases.

This scale is typically played over a minor seventh chord (primarily Gbm7 in this case) and is used in styles such as jazz and blues. It is sometimes called G flat Jazz Minor (it shouldn't be confused with the Melodic Minor, which also is reckoned as a minor jazz scale).
One way to learn this scale is to observe the minor 7th chord shapes that it is built around. For example, the Gbm7 barre chord with the root on the 6th string within the scale in 2nd position. Another way is to think of it as the Gb Minor scale with a raised sixth.

Chords that are related to this scale are the following:

Gbm7, Gbm9, Gbm11

Abm7

Amaj7, Amaj9

B7, B9, B11, B13

Dbm7, Dbm9, Dbm11

Ebm7b5

Emaj7, Emaj9, Emaj13

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the Gb Dorian scale (triads have been excluded).

Related to this scale are Dorian b2 and Dorian #4, being the 2nd mode of the Melodic Minor and the 4th mode of the Harmonic Minor.

The Gb Dorian b2 scale, also known as Gb Phrygian #6 scale, is identical with the Gb Dorian except for the minor second. It can be displayed as follows:

Formula	Notes	Intervals	Degrees
1	Gb	Unison	Tonic
b2	Abb	Minor second	Supertonic
b3	Bbb	Minor third	Mediant
4	Cb	Perfect fourth	Subdominant
5	Db	Perfect fifth	Dominant
6	Eb	Sixth	Submediant
b7	Fb	Minor seventh	Subtonic

The Gb Dorian b2 contains the same notes as the E Melodic Minor Scale, but starts on another note.

The Gb Dorian #4 scale is identical with the Gb Dorian except for the augmented fourth. It can be displayed as follows:

Formula	Notes	Intervals	Degrees
1	Gb	Unison	Tonic
2	Ab	Major second	Supertonic
b3	Bbb	Minor third	Mediant
#4	C	Augmented fourth	Subdominant
5	Db	Perfect fifth	Dominant
6	Eb	Sixth	Submediant
b7	Fb	Minor seventh	Subtonic

The Gb Dorian #4 contains the same notes as the Db Harmonic Minor Scale, but starts on another note.

Start the audio and play along with your guitar! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.

Normal tempo: Slow tempo:

All Dorian Scale jam tracks