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