F♭ Mixolydian Scale
The F♭ Mixolydian scale is the 5th mode of the B♭♭ major scale and has a distinctive major sound characterized by its minor 7th. This combination of a major 3rd with a flat 7th creates a bright yet bluesy quality often heard in rock, blues, country, and modal jazz.
This page covers everything you need to know about the F♭ Mixolydian scale: notes, intervals, theory, and how to play it on the piano.
F♭ Mixolydian Scale Notes
The F♭ Mixolydian scale contains the following notes:
F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭♭These notes come directly from the B♭♭ major parent scale, starting on its 5th degree (F♭).
F♭ Mixolydian Piano Diagram
This diagram highlights which keys belong to the F♭ Mixolydian scale, which is helpful for visualizing whole steps, half steps, and the overall shape of the scale on the keyboard.
F♭ Mixolydian Scale Formula and Intervals
The interval formula for the Mixolydian scale is:
W – W – H – W – W – H – WApplied to F♭, this gives us:
- F♭ → G♭
- G♭ → A♭
- A♭ → B♭♭
- B♭♭ → C♭
- C♭ → D♭
- D♭ → E♭♭
- E♭♭ → F♭
Thus, F♭ Mixolydian is built with the following scale degrees:
- Root (F♭)
- Major 2nd (G♭)
- Major 3rd (A♭)
- Perfect 4th (B♭♭)
- Perfect 5th (C♭)
- Major 6th (D♭)
- Minor 7th (E♭♭)
This structure gives the Mixolydian mode its characteristic sound, due in large part to the unique juxtaposition of the major 3rd with the minor 7th.
Chords in the Key of F♭ Mixolydian
When stacking thirds on each scale degree of the F♭ Mixolydian scale, the following diatonic triads emerge:
- F♭ major (I)
- G♭ minor (ii)
- A♭ diminished (iii°)
- B♭♭ major (IV)
- C♭ minor (v)
- D♭ minor (vi)
- E♭♭ major (VII)
Related Scales and Modes
If you enjoy playing in F♭ Mixolydian, you may also like:
- F♭ major (F♭ Mixolydian with a major 7th)
- F♭ Dorian (F♭ Mixolydian with a flat 3rd)
- B♭♭ major (parent scale)
F♭ Mixolydian Scale FAQs
How is F♭ Mixolydian different from F♭ major?
F♭ Mixolydian has a minor 7th (E♭♭), while F♭ major has a major 7th (E♭).
How is F♭ Mixolydian different from F♭ Dorian?
F♭ Mixolydian has a major 3rd (A♭), while F♭ Dorian has a minor 3rd (A♭♭).
What is the parent scale of F♭ Mixolydian?
B♭♭ major. F♭ Mixolydian uses the same notes as B♭♭ major, but starts on its 5th degree (F♭).
Summary: F♭ Mixolydian Scale
- Notes: F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭♭
- Mode: 5th mode of B♭♭ major
- Formula: W, W, H, W, W, H, W