F Dorian scale

3 flats: A♭ B♭ E♭ · pattern W–H–W–W–W–H–W

F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E♭

FGCDFA♭B♭E♭
Step patternWHWWWHW

Chords in F Dorian

iFm
iiGm
IIIA♭
IVB♭
vCm
vi°Ddim
VIIE♭

Scale degrees

DegreeNoteNameHalf steps from F
1FTonic0
2GSupertonic2
3A♭Mediant3
4B♭Subdominant5
5CDominant7
6DSubmediant9
7E♭Subtonic10

About this scale

Dorian is natural minor with a raised 6th (D), which gives it a brighter, hopeful minor sound heard in funk, jazz and songs like “Scarborough Fair”. It’s the 2nd mode of D♯ major.

Seventh chords in F Dorian scale

i7 Fm7ii7 Gm7IIImaj7 A♭maj7IV7 B♭7v7 Cm7viø7 Dm7♭5VIImaj7 E♭maj7

Other F scales

Dorian scale in other keys

Questions

What are the notes of the F Dorian scale?

F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, and back to F.

How many sharps or flats are in F Dorian scale?

3: A♭, B♭, E♭.

What is the step pattern of the Dorian scale?

W–H–W–W–W–H–W, where W is a whole step (two keys) and H is a half step (the next key). Start that pattern on F to get this scale.