E♭ Mixolydian scale

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

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

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Scale notes

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

Chords of the scale

Symbol	Chord	Notes	Chord-scale	Tensions	Avoid
I7 modal center	E♭7	E♭ G B♭ D♭	Mixolydian E♭	9 (F), 13 (C)	11 (A♭)
IIm7	Fm7	F A♭ C E♭	Aeolian F	9 (G), 11 (B♭)	b13 (D♭)
IIIø	Gø	G B♭ D♭ F	Locrian G	11 (C), b13 (E♭)	b9 (A♭)
IVMaj7	A♭Maj7	A♭ C E♭ G	Ionian A♭	9 (B♭), 13 (F)	11 (D♭)
Vm7	B♭m7	B♭ D♭ F A♭	Dorian B♭	9 (C), 11 (E♭)	13 (G)
VIm7	Cm7	C E♭ G B♭	Phrygian C	11 (F)	b9 (D♭), b13 (A♭)
bVIIMaj7 characteristic	D♭Maj7	D♭ F A♭ C	Lydian D♭	9 (E♭), #11 (G), 13 (B♭)	–

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 (D♭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 E♭ Mixolydian scale?

E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D♭. 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7.

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

The seventh chords on each degree are I7 = E♭7, IIm7 = Fm7, IIIø = Gø, IVMaj7 = A♭Maj7, Vm7 = B♭m7, VIm7 = Cm7, bVIIMaj7 = D♭Maj7.