stringery

A♭ mixolydian

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

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position4 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. A♭RW
  2. B♭2W
  3. C3H
  4. D♭4W
  5. E♭5W
  6. F6H
  7. G♭♭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 neckA♭ mixolydian

12345GCEA571012R23456♭73456♭7R236♭7R234523456♭7R
12345GCEA571012R23456♭73456♭7R236♭7R234523456♭7R

Position 4 is outlined, frets 8 to 11. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The A♭ mixolydian key

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

  1. A♭I
  2. B♭mii
  3. Cdimiii°
  4. D♭IV
  5. E♭mv
  6. Fmvi
  7. G♭VII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • D♭ major

    Same notes, but home is D♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • B♭ minor

    Same notes, but home is B♭: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • E♭ dorian

    Same notes, but home is E♭: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • F♯ lydian

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

  • F phrygian

    Same notes, but home is F: dark, spanish, menacing.