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Scale · 7 notes

A Mixolydian ♭6 Scale

A Mixolydian ♭6 is a 7-note scale with the notes A B C♯ D E F G. It sounds the fifth mode of melodic minor: Mixolydian with a flat 6th, major and bluesy with a touch of minor, used over dominant chords that resolve to minor.

DEFGABC♯

Purple = A (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every A mixolydian ♭6 note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABDEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFGABC♯DEFG

Blue = A (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the A Mixolydian ♭6 scale

DegreeNoteName
1ATonic
2BSupertonic
3C♯Mediant
4DSubdominant
5EDominant
♭6FSubmediant
♭7GSubtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B C♯ D E F G.

A Mixolydian ♭6 scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – H – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.

Chords in the A Mixolydian ♭6 scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
IAA7
ii°B°Bø7
iii°C♯°C♯ø7
ivDmDm(maj7)
vEmEm7
VI+F+F7♯5
VIIGG7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the A Mixolydian ♭6 scale

Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the A Mixolydian ♭6 scale?

The notes of the A Mixolydian ♭6 scale are A B C♯ D E F G.

What is the formula for the A Mixolydian ♭6 scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – H – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.

What chords are in the A Mixolydian ♭6 scale?

Built from the scale in triads: A, B°, C♯°, Dm, Em, F+, G.

More A scales

A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.