Ab Dorian Mode
Notes in the Ab Dorian Mode
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Ab | Bb |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Bb | B |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Db | Eb |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Eb | F |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | Gb |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Gb | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab minor | minor |
| 2 | Bb | Bb minor | minor |
| ♭3 | B | B | major |
| 4 | Db | Db | major |
| 5 | Eb | Eb minor | minor |
| 6 | F | F diminished | diminished |
| ♭7 | Gb | Gb | major |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Dorian Mode in Practice
The Ab Dorian Mode uses the key signature of 4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db). Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing. On guitar, Ab positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The Dorian mode is a minor scale with a raised 6th degree, giving it a slightly brighter quality than natural minor. It is the characteristic sound of jazz and Celtic music.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Dorian Mode
Ab is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Ab concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Ab sound a major sixth lower.