Low E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12
A string: Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11
D string: Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11
G string: Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11
B string: C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11
High E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12
The dorian b2 scale, the second mode of the melodic minor scale, is dorian with a phrygian flat 2nd: minor with a natural 6th and a dark half-step opening. That combination, shadowed at the bottom and bright in the middle, works over minor 7th chords when plain dorian feels too polite, and over sus4b9 chords in modern jazz.
it consists of these notes and degrees:
i
bII+
bIII
IV
v°
vi°
bvii
Characteristic notes: E (b2) and C (natural 6), phrygian darkness below the root, dorian brightness above it.
Same notes, different mode
Eb dorian b2 uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.
How to play E♭ dorian b2 on guitar
Only the two E strings touch this scale, and they spell Fb a minor second above the root, so open drones are out. Roots sit at fret 11 on both E strings, fret 6 on the A string and fret 1 on the D string. A capo at fret 1 turns D dorian b2 fingerings into this key, which means the shapes are borrowed rather than learned fresh. Six flats sit in the key signature. Box work runs to fret 15, so position playing starts high.
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