B♯ 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 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 W H W |
| Chords in the key | B♯C𝄪mD𝄪°E♯F𝄪mG𝄪mA♯ |
Chords in the B♯ Mixolydian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♯ Mixolydian on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♯ Mixolydian uses one black key (A♯) and six white. B♯, C𝄪, D𝄪, E♯, F𝄪 and G𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, D, E, F, G and A.
B♯ · C𝄪 · D𝄪 · E♯ · F𝄪 · G𝄪 · A♯
Play B♯ Mixolydian on the online piano
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B♯ Mixolydian on the guitar
B♯ Mixolydian - fr 0–12
B♯ Mixolydian on the staff
Notes of the B♯ Mixolydian 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𝄪 | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | A♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes B♯ 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 B♯, B♯ Mixolydian has A♯ where B♯ Major has A𝄪; every other note is shared with B♯ Major (B♯ C𝄪 D𝄪 E♯ F𝄪 G𝄪 A𝄪).
Modes from B♯ Mixolydian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the B♯ Mixolydian scale
The diatonic chords of B♯ Mixolydian are: I = B♯, ii = C𝄪m, iii° = D𝄪°, IV = E♯, v = F𝄪m, vi = G𝄪m, VII = A♯. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♯ 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 B♯ 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 B♯ Mixolydian
Start with the music described above: listen for B♯ 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 B♯ Mixolydian scale?
The B♯ Mixolydian scale contains B♯, C𝄪, D𝄪, E♯, F𝄪, G𝄪 and A♯.
What is the formula for the B♯ Mixolydian scale?
B♯ Mixolydian follows a major scale with a flat seventh degree (W-W-H-W-W-H-W).
Is B♯ Mixolydian a major or minor scale?
B♯ Mixolydian is a mixolydian scale. Major scale with a flat seventh - the dominant sound of blues and rock.
What chords belong to the B♯ Mixolydian scale?
The diatonic chords of B♯ Mixolydian are B♯, C𝄪m, D𝄪°, E♯, F𝄪m, G𝄪m, A♯.
Which genres use B♯ 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 B♯ Mixolydian scale on the piano?
On the piano B♯ Mixolydian uses one black key (A♯) and six white. B♯, C𝄪, D𝄪, E♯, F𝄪 and G𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, D, E, F, G and A.
What is the difference between B♯ Mixolydian and B♯ Major?
On B♯, B♯ Mixolydian has A♯ where B♯ Major has A𝄪; every other note is shared with B♯ Major (B♯ C𝄪 D𝄪 E♯ F𝄪 G𝄪 A𝄪).
How do I practise the B♯ Mixolydian scale?
Improvise over a major chord using the flat seventh - instantly sounds bluesy or country-flavoured.