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Scale · 7 notes

E Mixolydian ♭6 Scale

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

CDEABF♯G♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯G♯ABCDEF♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEG♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEF♯

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

Notes in the E Mixolydian ♭6 scale

DegreeNoteName
1ETonic
2F♯Supertonic
3G♯Mediant
4ASubdominant
5BDominant
♭6CSubmediant
♭7DSubtonic

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

E 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 E Mixolydian ♭6 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IEE7
ii°F♯°F♯ø7
iii°G♯°G♯ø7
ivAmAm(maj7)
vBmBm7
VI+C+C7♯5
VIIDD7

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

How to practise the E 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 E Mixolydian ♭6 scale?

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

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

Built from the scale in triads: E, F♯°, G♯°, Am, Bm, C+, D.

More E scales

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