A♭ Mixolydian scale
The A♭ Mixolydian scale is made of the notes A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭. It has 7 notes; compared with the major scale its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.
Modes · 7 notes
- 1A♭
- 2B♭
- 3C
- 4D♭
- 5E♭
- 6F
- ♭7G♭
PatternW – W – H – W – W – H – W(W = whole step, H = half step)
The seven scales you get by starting from each degree of the major scale. Degrees are shown relative to the major scale: ♭3 is the third lowered by a half step, ♯4 the fourth raised.
Mode and chords
The fifth mode of the major: a major scale with a minor 7th. It is the scale of the dominant seventh chord, and so of blues, rock and funk.
The A♭ Mixolydian scale is mode 5 of the D♭ major scale: the same notes, starting from degree 5. D♭ major scale →
Put it into practice
The scale played in thirds over one octave: one of the exercises MEG generates from this scale.
Chords built on the scale
Frequently asked questions
- What are the notes of the A♭ Mixolydian scale?
- The notes are A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭.
- What is the pattern of the A♭ Mixolydian scale?
- The sequence of steps is W – W – H – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step); compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.
- Which scale is the A♭ Mixolydian scale a mode of?
- It is mode 5 of the D♭ major scale.
- Which chords is the A♭ Mixolydian scale used over?
- It is used over A♭7, A♭9, A♭6: the chords on the tonic made of the notes of the scale.