The D Mixolydian b6 Scale on Guitar
D Mixolydian b6 uses D, E, F#, G, A, Bb and C. Start from D Mixolydian and lower the sixth from B to Bb, and the whole scale changes colour.
The open D string is the root, and you find it again on the 10th fret of the low E string and the 5th fret of the A string. All seven notes belong to G melodic minor. For the parent family, see the melodic minor scale.
Play the D mixolydian b6 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the D mixolydian b6 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root | 0 |
| E | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| F# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| Bb | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| C | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
D mixolydian b6 scale notes:
How the mixolydian b6 scale is built:
The mixolydian b6 scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-W-H-W-H-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 5 of the Melodic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Hindu Scale and Melodic Major.
D Mixolydian b6 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (D)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the D mixolydian b6 scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the mixolydian b6 scale, starting from a different degree.
The mixolydian b6 scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
