A Dorian B2 Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
A Dorian B2 Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Dorian B2 scale is a soulful mode from the melodic minor system that combines the minor brightness of Dorian with the dark tension of a flattened second. On Bass, the notes are A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G. It is used in modern jazz and film scores to create a sound that is both sophisticated and slightly unsettling. Commonly used in Jazz, Film Scores, Fusion, Contemporary. Notable players include Wayne Shorter, Kenny Garrett, Brad Mehldau. Use over m7, m9, sus(b9) chords. Works on the ii chord in a minor ii-V-i when you want extra tension.
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: H-W-W-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: phrygian #6, melodic minor second mode
Musical Character
Combines Dorian's soulful minor with the exotic tension of a b2, creating a sound that is both sophisticated and slightly sinister — a favorite for film noir and modern jazz.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Film Scores, Fusion, Contemporary
Notable players: Wayne Shorter, Kenny Garrett, Brad Mehldau
How to Use the A Dorian B2 Scale
Use over m7, m9, sus(b9) chords. Works on the ii chord in a minor ii-V-i when you want extra tension.
Origin & Background
The second mode of the melodic minor scale. Also known as Phrygian #6 or Javanese scale.
How to Play A Dorian B2 on Bass
On bass, locate A on the E string at fret 5. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The A Dorian B2 scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative major is C major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A Dorian B2 scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-C, Bb-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Dorian B2 scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in contemporary contexts.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the A Dorian B2 scale to build walking bass lines by targeting chord tones on strong beats and using scale tones as approach notes. This is the foundation of functional bass playing. Aim for a sophisticated quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Dorian B2 is the 2nd mode of the Melodic Minor scale. View A Melodic minor scale
The A Dorian B2 scale contains 7 notes (A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Dorian B2
The A Dorian B2 scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.