STRINGSCALES

D♭ mixolydian b6 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

A string: Bbb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, Db at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11

G string: Ab, Bbb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

B string: Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

Db 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:

D♭

I

D♭maj
E♭

ii°

E♭dim
F

iii°

Fdim
G♭

iv

G♭m
A♭

v

A♭m
B𝄫

bVI+

B𝄫aug
C♭

bVII

C♭maj

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

Same notes, different mode

Db 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.

Eb locrian #2F alteredGb melodic minorAb dorian b2A lydian augmentedCb lydian dominant

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

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

How to play D♭ mixolydian b6 on guitar

Capo the 1st fret and C fingerings deliver Db mixolydian b6, meaning six flats never reach the page. Open A and B are the only in-scale open strings, sounding Bbb and Cb, so they pass through a line instead of holding a pedal. Lowest root: fret 9, low E. Gbm handles the iv and Abm the v, which puts two minor shapes where a major and a dominant would normally sit.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.