Playing the C Dorian b2 Scale

The C Dorian b2 scale is C, Db, Eb, F, G, A and Bb. Think of C Phrygian with a raised 6th: the flat second gives the dark opening, and the natural A keeps the sound from sinking.

It is the second mode of Bb melodic minor, so those notes in a different order work as a map. The root sits on the 8th fret of the low E string and the 3rd fret of the A string. To decide where it fits, read which scale fits which chord.

Play the C dorian b2 scale

Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.

Notes of the C dorian b2 scale

NoteDegreeIntervalSemitones from root
C1Root0
Dbb2Minor 2nd1
Ebb3Minor 3rd3
F4Perfect 4th5
G5Perfect 5th7
A6Major 6th9
Bbb7Minor 7th10

Structure

C dorian b2 scale notes:

C Db Eb F G A Bb

How the dorian b2 scale is built:

The dorian b2 scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 b3 4 5 6 b7, which gives the step pattern H-W-W-W-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).

Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.

It is mode 2 of the Melodic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.

It is also known as Phrygian #6.

C Dorian b2 Scale Guitar Patterns

Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - On one string (B)

On one string (B)

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 1

Box pattern — position 1

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 2

Box pattern — position 2

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 3

Box pattern — position 3

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 4

Box pattern — position 4

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 5

Box pattern — position 5

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 1

3 notes per string — position 1

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 2

3 notes per string — position 2

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 3

3 notes per string — position 3

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 4

3 notes per string — position 4

C Dorian b2 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 5

3 notes per string — position 5

Chords in the C dorian b2 scale

Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.

DegreeTriadSeventh chord
1 Cm Cm7
b2 Dbaug Dbmaj7(b13)
b3 Eb Eb7
4 F F7
5 Gdim Gm7(b5)
6 Adim Am7(b5)
b7 Bbm Bbm(maj7)

Related modes

These scales share the same notes as the dorian b2 scale, starting from a different degree.

Melodic Minor Scale Lydian Augmented Scale Lydian Dominant Scale Mixolydian b6 Scale Aeolian b5 Scale Super Locrian Scale

The dorian b2 scale in other keys

C C# Db D D# Eb E F F# Gb G G# Ab A A# Bb B

All about the dorian b2 scale →

Giancarlo Facoetti, founder of FaChords Guitar

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher