stringery

B mixolydian

Major with a flat 7th: rock, blues and folk. Dominant family

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position3 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 7th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. BRW
  2. C♯2W
  3. D♯3H
  4. E4W
  5. F♯5W
  6. G♯6H
  7. A♭7W

Lowering the 7th of the major scale by one fret removes its pull home, so the music relaxes instead of resolving.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckB mixolydian

12345EADGBE35791215456♭7R2345♭7R23456♭7R3456♭7R2346♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R2456♭7R2345
12345EADGBE35791215456♭7R2345♭7R23456♭7R3456♭7R2346♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R2456♭7R2345

Position 3 is outlined, frets 6 to 10. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The B mixolydian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. BI
  2. C♯mii
  3. D♯dimiii°
  4. EIV
  5. F♯mv
  6. G♯mvi
  7. AVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • E major

    Same notes, but home is E: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • C♯ minor

    Same notes, but home is C♯: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • F♯ dorian

    Same notes, but home is F♯: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • A lydian

    Same notes, but home is A: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • G♯ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is G♯: dark, spanish, menacing.