B♭ Mixolydian scale
The B♭ Mixolydian scale is made of the notes B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭. It has 7 notes; compared with the major scale its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.
Modes · 7 notes
- 1B♭
- 2C
- 3D
- 4E♭
- 5F
- 6G
- ♭7A♭
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 B♭ Mixolydian scale is mode 5 of the E♭ major scale: the same notes, starting from degree 5. E♭ 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 B♭ Mixolydian scale?
- The notes are B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭.
- What is the pattern of the B♭ 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 B♭ Mixolydian scale a mode of?
- It is mode 5 of the E♭ major scale.
- Which chords is the B♭ Mixolydian scale used over?
- It is used over B♭7, B♭9, B♭6: the chords on the tonic made of the notes of the scale.