Chord Colors

E Dorian b5 scale

About the E Dorian b5 scale

E Dorian b5 is used for jazz solos and moody, unsettled passages. Think of it as a dorian minor with a flat fifth, dark and off balance.

Its notes are E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. The formula is W H W H 1½ H W. It is the second mode of D Harmonic Major.

Also called Maqam Karcigar.

This scale draws three black keys from the piano, F, B, and C.

Chords in the key of E Dorian b5

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

E diminished
Position 2 of 3

E diminished over G (1st inversion)

ii F sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

F sharp minor over A (1st inversion)

iii G minor
Position 2 of 3

G minor over B flat (1st inversion)

IV A
Position 2 of 3

A over C sharp (1st inversion)

V+ B flat augmented
Position 2 of 3

B flat augmented over D (1st inversion)

vi° C sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

C sharp diminished over E (1st inversion)

VII D
Position 2 of 3

D over F sharp (1st inversion)

Seventh chords in E Dorian b5

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

E minor seven flat five

E minor seven flat five

ii F sharp minor seven

F sharp minor seven

iii G minor major seven

G minor major seven

IV A seven

A seven

V+ B flat major seven sharp five

B flat major seven sharp five

vi° C sharp diminished seven

C sharp diminished seven

VII D major seven

D major seven

Progressions in E Dorian b5

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1EERoot
2F#F♯Major 2nd
3GGMinor 3rd
4AAPerfect 4th
5BbB♭Diminished 5th
6C#C♯Major 6th
7DDMinor 7th
StepsW H W H 1½ H W
Semitones2-1-2-1-3-1-2
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules

Hand EF sharpGAB flatC sharpDE
Right hand12312345
Left hand43214321

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Dorian b5 in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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E Dorian b5 scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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