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B♭ mixolydian scale on guitar
B♭ mixolydian is B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭. Box 2 places the root on string 6, fret 6 and covers frets 3–6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ mixolydian scale on guitar?
B♭ mixolydian in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 15 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3, 4 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ mixolydian in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 17 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the G string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 6 | D, E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ mixolydian in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 13 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the D string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ mixolydian in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the D string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 11 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
B♭ mixolydian in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 17 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 13 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 13 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12, 13 | F, G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ mixolydian lowers the seventh of B♭ major from A to A♭. The scale is built 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7 with intervals 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10. Compare it to B♭ major to hear the dominant colour. The ♭7 creates a dominant seventh sound over B♭.
When to use it
B♭ mixolydian fits dominant seventh chords like B♭ major and B♭ 5th. Use it over B♭7 progressions in rock, blues, and funk. The ♭7 A♭ is the colour tone against the major third D.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 2 first. It keeps the root under your first finger on string 6, fret 6 and covers frets 3–6 for easy access.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ mixolydian?
B♭ mixolydian contains B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, and A♭. The scale has a major third and a flattened seventh. It is the fifth mode of E♭ major. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit B♭ mixolydian?
B♭ mixolydian works over B♭ dominant seventh chords. The chord tones are B♭, D, F, and A♭. The scale adds C, E♭, and G as passing tones.
How does B♭ mixolydian differ from B♭ major?
B♭ mixolydian lowers the seventh degree from A to A♭. This creates a dominant seventh sound instead of a major seventh. The rest of the notes are identical to B♭ major.