stringery

B♭ mixolydian

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

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position5 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. B♭RW
  2. C2W
  3. D3H
  4. E♭4W
  5. F5W
  6. G6H
  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

12345GCEA5710126♭7R2345623456♭7R256♭7R234R23456♭7
12345GCEA5710126♭7R2345623456♭7R256♭7R234R23456♭7

Position 5 is outlined, frets 10 to 12. 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. B♭I
  2. Cmii
  3. Ddimiii°
  4. E♭IV
  5. Fmv
  6. Gmvi
  7. A♭VII

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.