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