D♭ Mixolydian scale

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

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

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Scale notes

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

Chords of the scale

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

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 (C♭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 D♭ Mixolydian scale?

D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭. 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7.

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

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