D♭ 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 D♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where D♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B𝄫 C♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W H W H W W |
| Chords in the key | D♭E♭°F°G♭mA♭mB𝄫+C♭ |
Chords in the D♭ Hindu scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
D♭ Hindu on the piano
Improvisation drone · D♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano D♭ Hindu uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white. B𝄫 and C♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A and B.
D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B𝄫 · C♭
Try D♭ Hindu on the virtual piano
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D♭ Hindu on the guitar
D♭ Hindu - fr 0–12
D♭ Hindu on the staff
Notes of the D♭ Hindu scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | E♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | F | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | G♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | A♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | B𝄫 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | C♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes D♭ 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 D♭, D♭ Hindu has B𝄫 where D♭ Mixolydian has B♭; every other note is shared with D♭ Mixolydian (D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭).
How to use the D♭ Hindu scale
The diatonic chords of D♭ Hindu are: I = D♭, ii° = E♭°, iii° = F°, iv = G♭m, v = A♭m, VI+ = B𝄫+, VII = C♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in D♭ 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 D♭ 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 D♭ Hindu
Start with the music described above: listen for D♭ 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 D♭ Hindu scale?
The D♭ Hindu scale contains D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B𝄫 and C♭.
What is the formula for the D♭ Hindu scale?
D♭ Hindu follows Mixolydian with a flat sixth (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7) — also the fifth mode of melodic minor.
Is D♭ Hindu a major or minor scale?
D♭ 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 D♭ Hindu scale?
The diatonic chords of D♭ Hindu are D♭, E♭°, F°, G♭m, A♭m, B𝄫+, C♭.
Which genres use D♭ 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 D♭ Hindu scale on the piano?
On the piano D♭ Hindu uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white. B𝄫 and C♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A and B.
What is the difference between D♭ Hindu and D♭ Mixolydian?
On D♭, D♭ Hindu has B𝄫 where D♭ Mixolydian has B♭; every other note is shared with D♭ Mixolydian (D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭).
How do I practise the D♭ 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.