Mixolydian scale · 7 notes
E♭ Mixolydian scale on guitar
The E♭ Mixolydian scale (E flat Mixolydian scale) has 7 notes: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C and D♭. A major scale with a ♭7: the bluesy-but-major sound of classic rock. You may also see it written as D♯ Mixolydian, but E♭ is the usual spelling because it needs fewer accidentals.
Notes
- E♭
- F
- G
- A♭
- B♭
- C
- D♭
Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Steps
W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Sound
Major, bluesy and laid-back
E♭ Mixolydian on the whole fretboard
Every E♭ Mixolydian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, E♭, 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
E♭ at fret 11. 10th position: frets 10–14.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of E♭ Mixolydian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from E♭, the E♭ Mixolydian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 4 flats (E♭, A♭, B♭ and D♭). Compared with E♭ major, it has D♭ (♭7) instead of D.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♭ | root | 0 |
| 2 | F | major 2nd | 2 |
| 3 | G | major 3rd | 4 |
| 4 | A♭ | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | B♭ | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | C | major 6th | 9 |
| ♭7 | D♭ | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in E♭ Mixolydian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to E♭ Mixolydian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in E♭ Mixolydian.
- IE♭E♭ · G · B♭E♭7
- iiFmF · A♭ · CFm7
- iii°G°G · B♭ · D♭Gm7♭5
- IVA♭A♭ · C · E♭A♭maj7
- vB♭mB♭ · D♭ · FB♭m7
- viCmC · E♭ · GCm7
- ♭VIID♭D♭ · F · A♭D♭maj7
Progressions to try
- E♭ – D♭ – A♭ I–♭VII–IV · classic rock
- E♭ – D♭ I–♭VII
- E♭ – B♭m – D♭ – A♭ I–v–♭VII–IV
How to use E♭ 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.
- E♭ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of A♭ major, played from its fifth note, E♭. See A♭ major.
Where to find E♭ on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every E♭ between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with E♭ |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 11 |
| B (2nd) | 4 |
| G (3rd) | 8 |
| D (4th) | 1 |
| A (5th) | 6 |
| Low E (6th) | 11 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as E♭ Mixolydian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
E♭ Mixolydian scale FAQ
What notes are in the E♭ Mixolydian scale?
The E♭ Mixolydian scale has 7 notes: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C and D♭. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. It contains 4 flats (E♭, A♭, B♭ and D♭).
What chords are in E♭ Mixolydian?
Harmonising the E♭ Mixolydian scale in thirds gives E♭ (I), Fm (ii), G° (iii°), A♭ (IV), B♭m (v), Cm (vi) and D♭ (♭VII).
Where do you play the E♭ Mixolydian scale on guitar?
The root, E♭, is at fret 11 on the low E string and fret 6 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 10–14, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as E♭ Mixolydian?
E♭ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of A♭ major, played from its fifth note, E♭.