Melodic MinorDegree 5

Mixolydian ♭6

Amber fading into grey-violet at the edges. A beautiful sunset that carries the hint of an approaching storm.

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Scale NotesMixolydian ♭6 in C
C
D
E
F
G
A♭
B♭
Interval Formula
12345♭6♭7
Primary Chord
The tonic chord built from this mode
C7

Chord Tones

CEGA♯

All Diatonic Chords

C7Dm7♭5D♯maj7♯5Fm7Gm7G♯maj7♯11A♯m7
Chord Voicings
Guitar voicings for C7
C78Root, dominant 7th, major 3rd. The dominant shell. the tritone between 3 and b7 defines the sound.
C7Root, major 3rd, dominant 7th. Compact dominant shell on inner strings.
C7Full four-note drop-2 dominant voicing. Root, 5th, b7th, 3rd with the characteristic tritone.
Fretboard

Mixolydian ♭6 in C

123456789101112131415EADGBeEFGG♯A♯CDEFGA♯CDEFGG♯A♯CDEFGG♯A♯CDEFGG♯A♯CDEFGG♯A♯CDEFGG♯A♯CDEFGG♯A♯CDEFG
RootCharacteristic toneScale tone
Listen
Audio. Mixolydian ♭6 in C
Tempo:
180 BPM

Musical Context

Diatonic Context
Chords built from the F melodic minor scale — click any chord for voicings
Where to Use Mixolydian ♭6
Primary Chord
C7
Function
Dominant
Key Context
The V chord in F melodic minor

Mixolydian with a dark twist.

Related Chord Voicings
Extensions, substitutions, and simplifications for C7

Extensions

Substitutions

Simplified Voicings

Example Progressions
Progressions where Mixolydian ♭6 applies (in C)
V → i → ii
V: C7i: Fm(maj7)ii: Gm7

Use Mixolydian ♭6 on the highlighted chord

The minor cadential progression.

Practice in Play Along →
ii → V
ii: Gm7V: C7

Use Mixolydian ♭6 on the highlighted chord

V7 resolving to minor using Mixolydian b6 instead of Phrygian Dominant.

Practice in Play Along →
Arpeggio Connection
The arpeggio that matches the C7 chord
Dominant 7th
C7
Tones
C
R
E
3
G
5
B♭
♭7
Highlighted = guide tones (define chord quality)

Sound

Mixolydian with a dark twist. The ♭6 adds a melancholic, bittersweet quality to an otherwise bright dominant scale. It's like a smile with sad eyes. major tonality with a shadow.

Practical Use Cases

  • ●Over dominant 7th chords resolving to minor
  • ●V7 in a minor key (alternative to Phrygian Dominant or HW diminished)
  • ●Melodic minor harmony applications
  • ●Creating bittersweet dominant sounds

Practical Notes

Also called Hindu scale or Mixolydian ♭13. This is the fifth mode of melodic minor. Use it over a V7 chord when the resolution is to a minor chord and you want something different from Phrygian Dominant. The ♭6 (♭13) is what gives it that darker edge compared to regular Mixolydian. In practice, many players use it interchangeably with other dominant-to-minor options. Think of it as 'Mixolydian that knows something sad is coming.'

dominantbittersweetminor-resolutionmelodic-minor-family

Musical Examples

James Bond Theme
suggested
Monty Norman · Film

Commonly associated with a Mixolydian b6 flavor. The major 3rd combined with the b6 creates the simultaneously confident and menacing character of the theme.

Practice Drills

Ascending & Descending in One PositionBeginnerTechnique
5 min

Play the mode ascending and descending within a single five-fret box. Build muscle memory and connect the sound to the shape.

Three-Notes-Per-String PatternsIntermediateTechnique
10 min

Play the mode using three notes on every string, stretching across the neck. Great for building legato technique and hearing the scale in a linear way.

Emphasize Characteristic Tones on Strong BeatsIntermediateImprovisation
10 min

Create short melodic phrases that land the mode's characteristic tone(s) on beats 1 and 3. This trains you to bring out the sound that defines the mode.

Improvise Over a Matching ChordBeginnerImprovisation
5 min

Play the mode's parent chord as a loop (or use a backing track) and improvise over it for two minutes. This connects the mode to its harmonic context.

Create 3 Licks Using Only Strings 1–3IntermediateImprovisation
10 min

Compose three short licks (2–4 beats each) using only the top three strings. This forces creativity within a constraint and builds upper-register vocabulary.

Resolve from Tension to StabilityIntermediateEar Training
8 min

Practice approaching chord tones from a half step above or below, training your ear to hear tension resolve.

Try Mixolydian ♭6 in Play Along

Practice improvising over real chord changes with guided scale and target note suggestions.

Compare With

Mixolydian vs Mixolydian ♭6
Two dominant scales from different families. The b6 adds a minor-key flavor to the dominant sound, creating a darker, more ambiguous dominant quality.

Related Modes

MixolydianPhrygian DominantAeolian

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