Mixolydian scale · 7 notes
A♭ Mixolydian scale on guitar
The A♭ Mixolydian scale (A flat Mixolydian scale) has 7 notes: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F and G♭. A major scale with a ♭7: the bluesy-but-major sound of classic rock. You may also see it written as G♯ Mixolydian, but A♭ is the usual spelling because it needs fewer accidentals.
Notes
- A♭
- B♭
- C
- D♭
- E♭
- F
- G♭
Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Steps
W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Sound
Major, bluesy and laid-back
A♭ Mixolydian on the whole fretboard
Every A♭ Mixolydian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, A♭, is shown in red so you can always find home.
A shape to learn first
You don’t need the whole neck at once. This hand position is anchored on a root note on the 6th (low E) string, which is how most guitarists find a scale in any key.
Root on the 6th (low E) string
A♭ at fret 4. 3rd position: frets 3–7.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of A♭ Mixolydian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from A♭, the A♭ Mixolydian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 5 flats (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭). Compared with A♭ major, it has G♭ (♭7) instead of G.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | root | 0 |
| 2 | B♭ | major 2nd | 2 |
| 3 | C | major 3rd | 4 |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | F | major 6th | 9 |
| ♭7 | G♭ | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in A♭ Mixolydian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to A♭ Mixolydian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in A♭ Mixolydian.
- IA♭A♭ · C · E♭A♭7
- iiB♭mB♭ · D♭ · FB♭m7
- iii°C°C · E♭ · G♭Cm7♭5
- IVD♭D♭ · F · A♭D♭maj7
- vE♭mE♭ · G♭ · B♭E♭m7
- viFmF · A♭ · CFm7
- ♭VIIG♭G♭ · B♭ · D♭G♭maj7
Progressions to try
- A♭ – G♭ – D♭ I–♭VII–IV · classic rock
- A♭ – G♭ I–♭VII
- A♭ – E♭m – G♭ – D♭ I–v–♭VII–IV
How to use A♭ Mixolydian
Reach for it over dominant 7th chords, classic rock, jam bands, country and blues in a major feel. Its sound is major, bluesy and laid-back.
Tip: Mixolydian = major pentatonic + the 4th + the ♭7. Use it over a dominant 7th chord for a sound between major and blues.
- A♭ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of D♭ major, played from its fifth note, A♭. See D♭ major.
Where to find A♭ on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every A♭ between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with A♭ |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 4 |
| B (2nd) | 9 |
| G (3rd) | 1 |
| D (4th) | 6 |
| A (5th) | 11 |
| Low E (6th) | 4 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as A♭ Mixolydian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
A♭ Mixolydian scale FAQ
What notes are in the A♭ Mixolydian scale?
The A♭ Mixolydian scale has 7 notes: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F and G♭. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. It contains 5 flats (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭).
What chords are in A♭ Mixolydian?
Harmonising the A♭ Mixolydian scale in thirds gives A♭ (I), B♭m (ii), C° (iii°), D♭ (IV), E♭m (v), Fm (vi) and G♭ (♭VII).
Where do you play the A♭ Mixolydian scale on guitar?
The root, A♭, is at fret 4 on the low E string and fret 11 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 3–7, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as A♭ Mixolydian?
A♭ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of D♭ major, played from its fifth note, A♭.