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