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