B♭ Mixolydian scale

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

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

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Scale notes

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

Chords of the scale

Symbol	Chord	Notes	Chord-scale	Tensions	Avoid
I7 modal center	B♭7	B♭ D F A♭	Mixolydian B♭	9 (C), 13 (G)	11 (E♭)
IIm7	Cm7	C E♭ G B♭	Aeolian C	9 (D), 11 (F)	b13 (A♭)
IIIø	Dø	D F A♭ C	Locrian D	11 (G), b13 (B♭)	b9 (E♭)
IVMaj7	E♭Maj7	E♭ G B♭ D	Ionian E♭	9 (F), 13 (C)	11 (A♭)
Vm7	Fm7	F A♭ C E♭	Dorian F	9 (G), 11 (B♭)	13 (D)
VIm7	Gm7	G B♭ D F	Phrygian G	11 (C)	b9 (A♭), b13 (E♭)
bVIIMaj7 characteristic	A♭Maj7	A♭ C E♭ G	Lydian A♭	9 (B♭), #11 (D), 13 (F)	–

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 (A♭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 B♭ Mixolydian scale?

B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭. 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7.

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

The seventh chords on each degree are I7 = B♭7, IIm7 = Cm7, IIIø = Dø, IVMaj7 = E♭Maj7, Vm7 = Fm7, VIm7 = Gm7, bVIIMaj7 = A♭Maj7.