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Scale · 7 notes

D Mixolydian ♭6 Scale

D Mixolydian ♭6 is a 7-note scale with the notes D E F♯ G A B♭ C. 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.

CDEGAF♯B♭

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEGAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯G

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

Notes in the D Mixolydian ♭6 scale

DegreeNoteName
1DTonic
2ESupertonic
3F♯Mediant
4GSubdominant
5ADominant
♭6B♭Submediant
♭7CSubtonic

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

D 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 D Mixolydian ♭6 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IDD7
ii°E°Eø7
iii°F♯°F♯ø7
ivGmGm(maj7)
vAmAm7
VI+B♭+B♭7♯5
VIICC7

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

How to practise the D 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 D Mixolydian ♭6 scale?

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

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

Built from the scale in triads: D, E°, F♯°, Gm, Am, B♭+, C.

More D scales

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