A♭ Hindu at a glance
Hindu scale (Mixolydian ♭6) appears in Indian classical music and Western rock/metal looking for an exotic dominant sound. Joe Satriani uses it constantly. Built on the root A♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W H W H W W |
| Chords in the key | A♭B♭°C°D♭mE♭mF♭+G♭ |
Chords in the A♭ Hindu scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Hindu on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Hindu uses five black keys (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and two white. F♭ is the white key you'd normally call E.
A♭ · B♭ · C · D♭ · E♭ · F♭ · G♭
Play A♭ Hindu on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
A♭ Hindu on the guitar
A♭ Hindu - fr 0–12
A♭ Hindu on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Hindu scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | C | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | F♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | G♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes A♭ Hindu different
The Hindu scale, also called Mixolydian ♭6 or Aeolian dominant, is Mixolydian with a lowered sixth, the one note separating the two. Its lower half (1, 2, 3, 4) is major and its upper half (5, ♭6, ♭7, 8) is natural minor, so it starts bright and ends dark. It's the fifth mode of melodic minor and shares its notes with the melodic minor scale a perfect fourth above its root. The tonic is major while both the iv and v chords are minor. On A♭, A♭ Hindu has F♭ where A♭ Mixolydian has F; every other note is shared with A♭ Mixolydian (A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭).
How to use the A♭ Hindu scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Hindu are: I = A♭, ii° = B♭°, iii° = C°, iv = D♭m, v = E♭m, VI+ = F♭+, VII = G♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Hindu. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Hindu scale (Mixolydian ♭6) appears in Indian classical music and Western rock/metal looking for an exotic dominant sound. Joe Satriani uses it constantly.
Practice tips
Compare hindu against parallel Mixolydian to feel what the flat sixth adds. Improvise over a 7sus4 chord using only Hindu notes for an instant exotic-rock vibe.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Hindu scale follows Mixolydian with a flat sixth (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7) — also the fifth mode of melodic minor. Step pattern: W - W - H - W - H - W - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear A♭ Hindu
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Hindu in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♭ Hindu scale?
The A♭ Hindu scale contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭ and G♭.
What is the formula for the A♭ Hindu scale?
A♭ Hindu follows Mixolydian with a flat sixth (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7) — also the fifth mode of melodic minor.
Is A♭ Hindu a major or minor scale?
A♭ Hindu is a hindu scale. Mixolydian with a flat sixth — major brightness with a darker upper tetrachord, common in Indian-flavoured rock and metal.
What chords belong to the A♭ Hindu scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Hindu are A♭, B♭°, C°, D♭m, E♭m, F♭+, G♭.
Which genres use A♭ Hindu?
Hindu scale (Mixolydian ♭6) appears in Indian classical music and Western rock/metal looking for an exotic dominant sound. Joe Satriani uses it constantly.
How do you play the A♭ Hindu scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Hindu uses five black keys (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and two white. F♭ is the white key you'd normally call E.
What is the difference between A♭ Hindu and A♭ Mixolydian?
On A♭, A♭ Hindu has F♭ where A♭ Mixolydian has F; every other note is shared with A♭ Mixolydian (A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭).
How do I practise the A♭ Hindu scale?
Compare hindu against parallel Mixolydian to feel what the flat sixth adds. Improvise over a 7sus4 chord using only Hindu notes for an instant exotic-rock vibe.