What is the Dorian b5 mode?
The Dorian b5 scale also referred to as Dorian Diminished or Locrian #2 #6, is the second mode of the harmonic major scale. This is a minor scale built with root (1), second (2), minor third (b3), fourth (4), diminished fifth (b5), sixth (6) and minor seventh (b7).
The Dorian b5 mode is built the same as the second mode of the major scale (Dorian mode), it contains a b5 instead of a natural 5. Notice that it should not be confused with the second mode of the harmonic minor scale named Locrian 13 that contains a b2. The Dorian b5 mode can be used over any half-diminished chord in a minor II-V-I sequence for example.
Comparison with The Dorian Mode
The chart below show you the difference between the Dorian (b5) mode and the Dorian mode, which is the second mode of the major scale and the most used when improvising over minor chords.
Comparison With Locrian 13 Mode
The Locrian 13 mode is the second mode of the harmonic minor scale. It has a b2 instead of a natural 2.
Triads Built From The Dorian b5 Mode
The Dorian b5 mode brings four types of triads :
Two major triads
Two minor triads
One augmented triad
Two diminished triads .
Exemple with the D Dorian b5 mode :
G major (G-B-D)
C major (C-E-G)
E minor (E-G-B)
F minor (F-Ab-C)
Ab augmented (Ab-C-E)
D diminished (D-F-Ab)
Bb diminished (Bb-D-F)
Seventh Chords Built From The Dorian b5 Mode
When stacking thirds on each degree of the Dorian b5 mode we obtain these chords.
i m7b5 (9, 11, 13)
ii m7 (b9, b11, b13)
iii minMaj7 (9, #11, 13)
IV7 (b9, 11, 13)
V maj#5 (#9, #11, 13)
VI dim7 (b9, 11, b13)
VII maj7 (9, 11, b13)
3 Notes Per String (3 NPS)
Here are seven positions to play the Dorian b5 mode using the 3 NPS system.
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