A♭ Mixolydian scale

The A♭ Mixolydian scale has the notes A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7. It is mode 5 of the D♭ major scale: the same notes, starting on A♭. Key signature: 5 flats (A♭ B♭ D♭ E♭ G♭).

It can also be written as G♯; we use the spelling with fewer accidentals.

Open in Grados with sound →

Scale notes

Degree	Formula	Note
I	1	A♭ tonic
II	2	B♭
III	3	C
IV	4	D♭
V	5	E♭
VI	6	F
VII	b7	G♭

Chords of the scale

Symbol	Chord	Notes	Chord-scale	Tensions	Avoid
I7 modal center	A♭7	A♭ C E♭ G♭	Mixolydian A♭	9 (B♭), 13 (F)	11 (D♭)
IIm7	B♭m7	B♭ D♭ F A♭	Aeolian B♭	9 (C), 11 (E♭)	b13 (G♭)
IIIø	Cø	C E♭ G♭ B♭	Locrian C	11 (F), b13 (A♭)	b9 (D♭)
IVMaj7	D♭Maj7	D♭ F A♭ C	Ionian D♭	9 (E♭), 13 (B♭)	11 (G♭)
Vm7	E♭m7	E♭ G♭ B♭ D♭	Dorian E♭	9 (F), 11 (A♭)	13 (C)
VIm7	Fm7	F A♭ C E♭	Phrygian F	11 (B♭)	b9 (G♭), b13 (D♭)
bVIIMaj7 characteristic	G♭Maj7	G♭ B♭ D♭ F	Lydian G♭	9 (A♭), #11 (C), 13 (E♭)	–

Character and characteristic note

The Mixolydian mode is the fifth mode of the major scale. It is a major scale with a flat seventh (b7); its tonic chord is a dominant seventh, hence its solid, robust sound.

Effect: solid, robust.
Characteristic note: b7.
Characteristic chords: bVIIMaj7 (G♭Maj7).

How to use it

Center I7 (or I7sus4), the only dominant allowed in modal music. Characteristic chord bVIIMaj7 (it contains the b7). The melody keeps coming back to 1 or 5, contrasted with the b7. No dominant resolution.

Watch out for

IVMaj7 tonicizes the Ionian of IV; patterns such as II-7 I7sus4 IVMaj7 relocate the center.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A♭ Mixolydian scale?

A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭. 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7.

What chords can you build on the A♭ Mixolydian scale?

The seventh chords on each degree are I7 = A♭7, IIm7 = B♭m7, IIIø = Cø, IVMaj7 = D♭Maj7, Vm7 = E♭m7, VIm7 = Fm7, bVIIMaj7 = G♭Maj7.