A♭ Mixolydian at a glance
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character. 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 W H W |
| Chords in the key | A♭B♭mC°D♭E♭mFmG♭ |
Chords in the A♭ Mixolydian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Mixolydian on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Mixolydian uses five black keys (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and two white.
A♭ · B♭ · C · D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭
Play A♭ Mixolydian on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
A♭ Mixolydian on the guitar
A♭ Mixolydian - fr 0–12
A♭ Mixolydian on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Mixolydian 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 | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | G♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes A♭ Mixolydian different
Mixolydian is the major scale with a lowered seventh, and that ♭7 is its only difference from major. Without a leading tone the v chord turns minor and a major chord appears on ♭VII, which gives rock its I, ♭VII, IV sound. Add the ♭7 to the tonic triad and you get a dominant seventh chord, which is why Mixolydian is the scale for dominant chords and for blues-rock. It's the fifth mode of the major scale, so it shares its notes with the major scale a perfect fourth above its root. On A♭, A♭ Mixolydian has G♭ where A♭ Major has G; every other note is shared with A♭ Major (A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G).
Modes from A♭ Mixolydian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the A♭ Mixolydian scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Mixolydian are: I = A♭, ii = B♭m, iii° = C°, IV = D♭, v = E♭m, vi = Fm, VII = G♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Mixolydian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character.
Practice tips
Improvise over a major chord using the flat seventh - instantly sounds bluesy or country-flavoured.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Mixolydian scale follows a major scale with a flat seventh degree (W-W-H-W-W-H-W). Step pattern: W - W - H - W - W - H - 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♭ Mixolydian
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Mixolydian 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♭ Mixolydian scale?
The A♭ Mixolydian scale contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F and G♭.
What is the formula for the A♭ Mixolydian scale?
A♭ Mixolydian follows a major scale with a flat seventh degree (W-W-H-W-W-H-W).
Is A♭ Mixolydian a major or minor scale?
A♭ Mixolydian is a mixolydian scale. Major scale with a flat seventh - the dominant sound of blues and rock.
What chords belong to the A♭ Mixolydian scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Mixolydian are A♭, B♭m, C°, D♭, E♭m, Fm, G♭.
Which genres use A♭ Mixolydian?
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character.
How do you play the A♭ Mixolydian scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Mixolydian uses five black keys (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and two white.
What is the difference between A♭ Mixolydian and A♭ Major?
On A♭, A♭ Mixolydian has G♭ where A♭ Major has G; every other note is shared with A♭ Major (A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G).
How do I practise the A♭ Mixolydian scale?
Improvise over a major chord using the flat seventh - instantly sounds bluesy or country-flavoured.