STRINGSCALES

A♭ mixolydian b6 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

A string: Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11

D string: Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

B string: C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

High E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

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Ab mixolydian b6

The mixolydian b6 scale, the fifth mode of the melodic minor scale, is a dominant scale whose top half turns minor: natural 3rd, flat 6th, flat 7th. The b6 gives the plain mixolydian sound a bittersweet, almost cinematic shading. It is the natural choice over a V7 resolving to a minor chord, spelling the coming darkness in advance.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I

A♭maj
B♭

ii°

B♭dim
C

iii°

Cdim
D♭

iv

D♭m
E♭

v

E♭m
F♭

bVI+

F♭aug
G♭

bVII

G♭maj

Characteristic notes: E (b6) and Gb (b7), a dominant sound with a darkened sixth, halfway to minor.

Same notes, different mode

Ab mixolydian b6 uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

Bb locrian #2C alteredDb melodic minorEb dorian b2Fb lydian augmentedGb lydian dominant

mixolydian b6 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Use Ab mixolydian b6 (E) over a V7 resolving to a minor chord: the flat 6th (E) previews the minor destination inside the dominant bar.
  • It is the fifth mode of melodic minor; over a static dominant vamp, alternate it with plain mixolydian and let the 6th tell the story.
  • Lean on b6 (E) falling to V, the scale's built-in sigh, especially over the chord's own 5th in the bass.
  • Try it over the IV7 chord in a minor blues in the key a 4th below Ab; the borrowed darkness fits perfectly.

How to play A♭ mixolydian b6 on guitar

Both E strings ring Fb, a flat sixth, and no other open string belongs, so nothing open will pedal under this key. Nearest the nut is a root at fret 1 on the G string, with fret 4 on the low E the lowest-pitched one. Capo fret 1 to borrow G shapes. Dbm and Ebm carry iv and v, which puts a minor chord where a dominant would usually go.

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