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A mixolydian b6 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C#, D, E, F, G, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

D string: D, E, F, G, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

B string: B, C#, D, E, F, G, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

High E string: E, F, G, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

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A 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

Amaj
B

ii°

Bdim
C♯

iii°

C♯dim
D

iv

Dm
E

v

Em
F

bVI+

Faug
G

bVII

Gmaj

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

Same notes, different mode

A 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.

B locrian #2C# alteredD melodic minorE dorian b2F lydian augmentedG lydian dominant

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

tip
  • Use A mixolydian b6 (F) over a V7 resolving to a minor chord: the flat 6th (F) 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 (F) 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 A; the borrowed darkness fits perfectly.

How to play A mixolydian b6 on guitar

All six open strings belong to this key, with the open A as the root and both E strings at the fifth, which means the whole nut is a usable drone. Beyond the open A, the closest root is the G string at fret 2. Lowest root lands at fret 5 on the low E, which lets the E-shape barre sit under everything. Faug covers the bVI+ and Em the v.

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