Mixolydian scale · 7 notes
B♭ Mixolydian scale on guitar
The B♭ Mixolydian scale (B flat Mixolydian scale) has 7 notes: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G and A♭. A major scale with a ♭7: the bluesy-but-major sound of classic rock. You may also see it written as A♯ Mixolydian, but B♭ is the usual spelling because it needs fewer accidentals.
Notes
- B♭
- C
- D
- E♭
- F
- G
- A♭
Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Steps
W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Sound
Major, bluesy and laid-back
B♭ Mixolydian on the whole fretboard
Every B♭ Mixolydian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, B♭, 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
B♭ at fret 6. 5th position: frets 5–9.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of B♭ Mixolydian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from B♭, the B♭ Mixolydian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 3 flats (B♭, E♭ and A♭). Compared with B♭ major, it has A♭ (♭7) instead of A.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | root | 0 |
| 2 | C | major 2nd | 2 |
| 3 | D | major 3rd | 4 |
| 4 | E♭ | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | F | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | G | major 6th | 9 |
| ♭7 | A♭ | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in B♭ Mixolydian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to B♭ Mixolydian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in B♭ Mixolydian.
- IB♭B♭ · D · FB♭7
- iiCmC · E♭ · GCm7
- iii°D°D · F · A♭Dm7♭5
- IVE♭E♭ · G · B♭E♭maj7
- vFmF · A♭ · CFm7
- viGmG · B♭ · DGm7
- ♭VIIA♭A♭ · C · E♭A♭maj7
Progressions to try
- B♭ – A♭ – E♭ I–♭VII–IV · classic rock
- B♭ – A♭ I–♭VII
- B♭ – Fm – A♭ – E♭ I–v–♭VII–IV
How to use B♭ 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.
- B♭ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of E♭ major, played from its fifth note, B♭. See E♭ major.
Where to find B♭ on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every B♭ between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with B♭ |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 6 |
| B (2nd) | 11 |
| G (3rd) | 3 |
| D (4th) | 8 |
| A (5th) | 1 |
| Low E (6th) | 6 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as B♭ Mixolydian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
B♭ Mixolydian scale FAQ
What notes are in the B♭ Mixolydian scale?
The B♭ Mixolydian scale has 7 notes: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G and A♭. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. It contains 3 flats (B♭, E♭ and A♭).
What chords are in B♭ Mixolydian?
Harmonising the B♭ Mixolydian scale in thirds gives B♭ (I), Cm (ii), D° (iii°), E♭ (IV), Fm (v), Gm (vi) and A♭ (♭VII).
Where do you play the B♭ Mixolydian scale on guitar?
The root, B♭, is at fret 6 on the low E string and fret 1 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 5–9, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as B♭ Mixolydian?
B♭ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of E♭ major, played from its fifth note, B♭.