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♯mF𝄪mG♯+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 two black keys (G♯ and A♯) and five white. B♯, C𝄪, D𝄪, E♯ and F𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, D, E, F and G.
B♯ · C𝄪 · D𝄪 · E♯ · F𝄪 · G♯ · A♯
Play B♯ Hindu on the online 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 = F𝄪m, 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, F𝄪m, 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 two black keys (G♯ and A♯) and five white. B♯, C𝄪, D𝄪, E♯ and F𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, D, E, F and G.
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.