STRINGSCALES

B mixolydian b6 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D#, E, F#, G, A, B, C# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

G string: G, A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

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

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

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B 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:

B

I

Bmaj
C♯

ii°

C♯dim
D♯

iii°

D♯dim
E

iv

Em
F♯

v

F♯m
G

bVI+

Gaug
A

bVII

Amaj

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

Same notes, different mode

B 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.

C# locrian #2D# alteredE melodic minorF# dorian b2G lydian augmentedA lydian dominant

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

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

How to play B mixolydian b6 on guitar

Open B string is the root, and low E, A, G and high E fill out five open strings in the key, so a tonic pedal is available on the B string. Closest fretted root to the nut: the A string at fret 2. Low E carries its root at fret 7. Set a capo at fret 2 and A fingerings apply, which lets three sharps stay off the page.

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