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