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