STRINGSCALES

C mixolydian b6 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: Bb, C, D, E, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

D string: D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

B string: C, D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

High E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

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C 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:

C

I

Cmaj
D

ii°

Ddim
E

iii°

Edim
F

iv

Fm
G

v

Gm
A♭

bVI+

A♭aug
B♭

bVII

B♭maj

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

Same notes, different mode

C 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.

D locrian #2E alteredF melodic minorG dorian b2Ab lydian augmentedBb lydian dominant

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

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

How to play C mixolydian b6 on guitar

Open G rings as the fifth and the open D adds a second, so four open strings can pedal under this key. Roots sit at fret 8 on the low E and the 10th on the D string. Nearest the nut: B string, 1st fret. Fm and Gm fill the iv and v, which means the five chord never turns major. Bb major answers the bVII, which lets you vamp a whole step under the tonic.

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