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The Dorian b5 Mode (Dorian Diminished, Locrian #2 #6) - Guitar Diagrams and Theory

The Dorian b5 scale also referred to as Dorian Diminished or Locrian Sharp 2 Sharp 6, is the second mode of the harmonic major scale. This is actually the Dorian mode with a diminished fifth.

 Dorian b5 Construction

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 which contains a b2.

The Dorian b5 mode can be used over any half-diminished chord in a minor 2 5 1 progression for example.

D Dorian b5 mode D E F G Ab B C
Formula 1 2 (9) b3 4 (11) b5 6 (13) b7
Intervals W H W H H+W H W
Dorian b5 scale

Comparison With 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.

D Dorian b5 mode D E F G Ab B C
Formula 1 2 (9) b3 4 (11) b5 6 (13) b7
D Dorian mode D E F G A B C
Formula 1 2 (9) b3 4 (11) 5 6 (13) b7
Dorian flat fifth vs dorian mode

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.

D Dorian b5 mode D E F G Ab B C
Formula 1 2 (9) b3 4 (11) b5 6 (13) b7
D Locrian 13 mode D Eb F G Ab B C
Formula 1 b2 (9) b3 4 (11) b5 6 (13) b7
Dorian flat fifth vs locrian 13

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 :

  • Gmaj (G-B-D)
  • Cmaj (C-E-G)
  • Em (E-G-B)
  • Fm (F-Ab-C)
  • Abaug (Ab-C-E)
  • Ddim (D-F-Ab)
  • Bbdim (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)

Chords of the dorian b5 mode

One-Octave Shapes

These four shapes show how to play the Dorian b5 scale on guitar within the space of one octave.

Dorian b5 guitar shapes

Two-Octave Shapes

These charts show hwo to play the Dorian b5 within at least two octaves.

Dorian b5 mode guitar chart

3 Notes Per String (3 NPS)

Here are seven positions to play the Dorian b5 mode using the 3 NPS system.

Dorian flat fifth guitar diagrams

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Last edited: 2024-04-19

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