C Mixolydian ♭6 scale: notes, chords and guitar positions

Scale

Labels

Click

bpm

DroneE2

Drums

Bass

Colour key

R234p567

Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.

C Mixolydian ♭6

♭6 with a major 3rd. Major but sombre.

Where you hear it: Over 7♭13 chords.

Key signature 4♭ (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭)as A♭ major / F minor, plus D♮ E♮ written in

Step pattern W – W – H – W – H – W – W

Parent scale: F melodic minor (starts on its 5th degree)
Compared with C major: ♭6 A → A♭, ♭7 B → B♭
Compared with C natural minor: ♯3 E♭ → E

Hover to compare

C Mixolydian ♭6 on the guitar

R234p567

Shapes

Extra notes

Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.

in the pentatonic r 2 3 5 ♭6: playedother notes of Mixolydian ♭6: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.

Modes with the same notes as C Mixolydian ♭6

F Melodic minor1st degree G Dorian ♭22nd degree A♭ Lydian augmented3rd degree B♭ Lydian dominant4th degree C Mixolydian ♭65th degree D Locrian ♮26th degree E Altered7th degree

Every chord in C Mixolydian ♭6

C71/21
easyopen
Dm7♭51/15
easyfret 5· shell
Em7♭51/12
easyfret 2
Fm(maj7)1/6
mediumfret 8
Gm71/15
easyfret 3· shell
A♭maj7♯51/10
easyfret 4· shell
B♭71/20
easyfret 3· shell

Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.

Iconic progressions in C Mixolydian ♭6

A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.

I – iv – I
A major tonic with a minor iv. The ♭6 is the 3rd of the iv, so the sad borrowed chord is exactly the mode’s colour note.
I – iv – ♭VII – I
Major I, minor iv, major ♭VII, back to I: two rising fourths in the roots, and a major home with minor-key shading.

Sus and extension chords from each chord

From C you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of C Mixolydian ♭6.

Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.

I C7

Notes: C E G B♭

open · 1/13

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

ii° Dm7♭5

Notes: D F A♭ C

fret 5 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

iii° Em7♭5

Notes: E G B♭ D

fret 2 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

iv Fm(maj7)

Notes: F A♭ C E

fret 8 · 1/4

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

v Gm7

Notes: G B♭ D F

fret 3 · 1/10

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭VI+ A♭maj7♯5

Notes: A♭ C E G

fret 4 · 1/6

Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭VII B♭7

Notes: B♭ D F A♭

fret 1 · 1/11

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

Scale

Labels

Click

bpm

DroneE2

Drums

Bass

Colour key

R234p567

Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.

C Mixolydian ♭6

♭6 with a major 3rd. Major but sombre.

Where you hear it: Over 7♭13 chords.

Key signature 4♭ (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭)as A♭ major / F minor, plus D♮ E♮ written in

Step pattern W – W – H – W – H – W – W

Parent scale: F melodic minor (starts on its 5th degree)
Compared with C major: ♭6 A → A♭, ♭7 B → B♭
Compared with C natural minor: ♯3 E♭ → E

Hover to compare

C Mixolydian ♭6 on the guitar

R234p567

Shapes

Extra notes

Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.

Modes with the same notes as C Mixolydian ♭6

F Melodic minor1st degree G Dorian ♭22nd degree A♭ Lydian augmented3rd degree B♭ Lydian dominant4th degree C Mixolydian ♭65th degree D Locrian ♮26th degree E Altered7th degree

Every chord in C Mixolydian ♭6

C71/21
easyopen
Dm7♭51/15
easyfret 5· shell
Em7♭51/12
easyfret 2
Fm(maj7)1/6
mediumfret 8
Gm71/15
easyfret 3· shell
A♭maj7♯51/10
easyfret 4· shell
B♭71/20
easyfret 3· shell

Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.

Iconic progressions in C Mixolydian ♭6

A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.

I – iv – I
A major tonic with a minor iv. The ♭6 is the 3rd of the iv, so the sad borrowed chord is exactly the mode’s colour note.
I – iv – ♭VII – I
Major I, minor iv, major ♭VII, back to I: two rising fourths in the roots, and a major home with minor-key shading.

Sus and extension chords from each chord

From C you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of C Mixolydian ♭6.

Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.

I C7

Notes: C E G B♭

open · 1/13

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

ii° Dm7♭5

Notes: D F A♭ C

fret 5 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

iii° Em7♭5

Notes: E G B♭ D

fret 2 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

iv Fm(maj7)

Notes: F A♭ C E

fret 8 · 1/4

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

v Gm7

Notes: G B♭ D F

fret 3 · 1/10

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭VI+ A♭maj7♯5

Notes: A♭ C E G

fret 4 · 1/6

Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭VII B♭7

Notes: B♭ D F A♭

fret 1 · 1/11

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

Scales and modes

Colour key

C Mixolydian ♭6

C Mixolydian ♭6 on the guitar

Modes with the same notes as C Mixolydian ♭6

Every chord in C Mixolydian ♭6

Iconic progressions in C Mixolydian ♭6

I – iv – I

I – iv – ♭VII – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Scales and modes

Colour key

C Mixolydian ♭6

C Mixolydian ♭6 on the guitar

Modes with the same notes as C Mixolydian ♭6

Every chord in C Mixolydian ♭6

Iconic progressions in C Mixolydian ♭6

I – iv – I

I – iv – ♭VII – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour keyi

C Mixolydian ♭6

C Mixolydian ♭6 on the guitari

Modes with the same notes as C Mixolydian ♭6

Every chord in C Mixolydian ♭6

Iconic progressions in C Mixolydian ♭6

I – iv – I

I – iv – ♭VII – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour keyi

C Mixolydian ♭6

C Mixolydian ♭6 on the guitari

Modes with the same notes as C Mixolydian ♭6

Every chord in C Mixolydian ♭6

Iconic progressions in C Mixolydian ♭6

I – iv – I

I – iv – ♭VII – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour key

C Mixolydian ♭6 on the guitar

Colour key

C Mixolydian ♭6 on the guitar