Chords in Eb Dorian

Eb Dorian is built from the notes Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C and Db. Its scale carries 5 flats. Harmonising that scale in thirds gives seven chords — 3 majors, 3 minors and 1 diminished — starting on Ebm as the i. The chord on the fifth degree is Bbm rather than a major V, so Eb Dorian has no leading tone and resolves by step and colour instead of by dominant pull — the sound that separates it from a plain Eb major.

Beyond those seven, Eb Dorian commonly borrows Eb (I), Gm (iii), Ab (IV), Bb (V) and Cm (vi) from the parallel major — the mixture chords that give a progression somewhere unexpected to go.