Mixolydian scale · 7 notes
D♭ Mixolydian scale on guitar
The D♭ Mixolydian scale (D flat Mixolydian scale) has 7 notes: D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭ and C♭. A major scale with a ♭7: the bluesy-but-major sound of classic rock. You may also see it written as C♯ Mixolydian.
Notes
- D♭
- E♭
- F
- G♭
- A♭
- B♭
- C♭
Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Steps
W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Sound
Major, bluesy and laid-back
D♭ Mixolydian on the whole fretboard
Every D♭ Mixolydian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, D♭, 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
D♭ at fret 9. 8th position: frets 8–12.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of D♭ Mixolydian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from D♭, the D♭ Mixolydian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 6 flats (D♭, E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭ and C♭). Compared with D♭ major, it has C♭ (♭7) instead of C.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♭ | root | 0 |
| 2 | E♭ | major 2nd | 2 |
| 3 | F | major 3rd | 4 |
| 4 | G♭ | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | A♭ | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | B♭ | major 6th | 9 |
| ♭7 | C♭ | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in D♭ Mixolydian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to D♭ Mixolydian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in D♭ Mixolydian.
- ID♭D♭ · F · A♭D♭7
- iiE♭mE♭ · G♭ · B♭E♭m7
- iii°F°F · A♭ · C♭Fm7♭5
- IVG♭G♭ · B♭ · D♭G♭maj7
- vA♭mA♭ · C♭ · E♭A♭m7
- viB♭mB♭ · D♭ · FB♭m7
- ♭VIIC♭C♭ · E♭ · G♭C♭maj7
Progressions to try
- D♭ – C♭ – G♭ I–♭VII–IV · classic rock
- D♭ – C♭ I–♭VII
- D♭ – A♭m – C♭ – G♭ I–v–♭VII–IV
How to use D♭ 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.
- D♭ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of F♯ major, played from its fifth note, D♭. See F♯ major.
Where to find D♭ on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every D♭ between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with D♭ |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 9 |
| B (2nd) | 2 |
| G (3rd) | 6 |
| D (4th) | 11 |
| A (5th) | 4 |
| Low E (6th) | 9 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as D♭ Mixolydian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
D♭ Mixolydian scale FAQ
What notes are in the D♭ Mixolydian scale?
The D♭ Mixolydian scale has 7 notes: D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭ and C♭. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. It contains 6 flats (D♭, E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭ and C♭).
What chords are in D♭ Mixolydian?
Harmonising the D♭ Mixolydian scale in thirds gives D♭ (I), E♭m (ii), F° (iii°), G♭ (IV), A♭m (v), B♭m (vi) and C♭ (♭VII).
Where do you play the D♭ Mixolydian scale on guitar?
The root, D♭, is at fret 9 on the low E string and fret 4 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 8–12, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as D♭ Mixolydian?
D♭ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of F♯ major, played from its fifth note, D♭.