stringery

D♭ mixolydian

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

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position1 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. D♭RW
  2. E♭2W
  3. F3H
  4. G♭4W
  5. A♭5W
  6. B♭6H
  7. C♭♭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 neckD♭ mixolydian

12345GCEA57101256♭7R234R23456♭73456♭7R26♭7R2345
12345GCEA57101256♭7R234R23456♭73456♭7R26♭7R2345

Position 1 is outlined, frets 1 to 4. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The D♭ mixolydian key

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

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

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • F♯ major

    Same notes, but home is F♯: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • E♭ minor

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

  • G♯ dorian

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

  • B lydian

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

  • B♭ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is B♭: dark, spanish, menacing.