F♭ 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 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 W H W |
| Chords in the key | F♭G♭mA♭°B𝄫C♭mD♭mE𝄫 |
Chords in the F♭ Mixolydian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
F♭ Mixolydian on the piano
Improvisation drone · F♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano F♭ Mixolydian uses three black keys (G♭, A♭ and D♭) and four white. F♭, B𝄫, C♭ and E𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call E, A, B and D.
F♭ · G♭ · A♭ · B𝄫 · C♭ · D♭ · E𝄫
Try F♭ Mixolydian on the virtual piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
F♭ Mixolydian on the guitar
F♭ Mixolydian - fr 0–12
F♭ Mixolydian on the staff
Notes of the F♭ Mixolydian 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♭ | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | E𝄫 | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes F♭ 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 F♭, F♭ Mixolydian has E𝄫 where F♭ Major has E♭; every other note is shared with F♭ Major (F♭ G♭ A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭).
Modes from F♭ Mixolydian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the F♭ Mixolydian scale
The diatonic chords of F♭ Mixolydian are: I = F♭, ii = G♭m, iii° = A♭°, IV = B𝄫, v = C♭m, vi = D♭m, VII = E𝄫. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in F♭ 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 F♭ 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 F♭ Mixolydian
Start with the music described above: listen for F♭ 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 F♭ Mixolydian scale?
The F♭ Mixolydian scale contains F♭, G♭, A♭, B𝄫, C♭, D♭ and E𝄫.
What is the formula for the F♭ Mixolydian scale?
F♭ Mixolydian follows a major scale with a flat seventh degree (W-W-H-W-W-H-W).
Is F♭ Mixolydian a major or minor scale?
F♭ Mixolydian is a mixolydian scale. Major scale with a flat seventh - the dominant sound of blues and rock.
What chords belong to the F♭ Mixolydian scale?
The diatonic chords of F♭ Mixolydian are F♭, G♭m, A♭°, B𝄫, C♭m, D♭m, E𝄫.
Which genres use F♭ 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 F♭ Mixolydian scale on the piano?
On the piano F♭ Mixolydian uses three black keys (G♭, A♭ and D♭) and four white. F♭, B𝄫, C♭ and E𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call E, A, B and D.
What is the difference between F♭ Mixolydian and F♭ Major?
On F♭, F♭ Mixolydian has E𝄫 where F♭ Major has E♭; every other note is shared with F♭ Major (F♭ G♭ A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭).
How do I practise the F♭ Mixolydian scale?
Improvise over a major chord using the flat seventh - instantly sounds bluesy or country-flavoured.