B♭ 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 B♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B♭ C D E♭ F G♭ A♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W H W H W W |
| Chords in the key | B♭C°D°E♭mFmG♭+A♭ |
Chords in the B♭ Hindu scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♭ Hindu on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♭ Hindu uses four black keys (B♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white.
B♭ · C · D · E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭
Try B♭ Hindu on the virtual piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
B♭ Hindu on the guitar
B♭ Hindu - fr 0–12
B♭ Hindu on the staff
Notes of the B♭ Hindu scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | D | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | E♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | G♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes B♭ 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 B♭, B♭ Hindu has G♭ where B♭ Mixolydian has G; every other note is shared with B♭ Mixolydian (B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭).
How to use the B♭ Hindu scale
The diatonic chords of B♭ Hindu are: I = B♭, ii° = C°, iii° = D°, iv = E♭m, v = Fm, VI+ = G♭+, VII = A♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♭ 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 B♭ 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 B♭ Hindu
Start with the music described above: listen for B♭ 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 B♭ Hindu scale?
The B♭ Hindu scale contains B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G♭ and A♭.
What is the formula for the B♭ Hindu scale?
B♭ Hindu follows Mixolydian with a flat sixth (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7) — also the fifth mode of melodic minor.
Is B♭ Hindu a major or minor scale?
B♭ 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 B♭ Hindu scale?
The diatonic chords of B♭ Hindu are B♭, C°, D°, E♭m, Fm, G♭+, A♭.
Which genres use B♭ 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 B♭ Hindu scale on the piano?
On the piano B♭ Hindu uses four black keys (B♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white.
What is the difference between B♭ Hindu and B♭ Mixolydian?
On B♭, B♭ Hindu has G♭ where B♭ Mixolydian has G; every other note is shared with B♭ Mixolydian (B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭).
How do I practise the B♭ 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.