fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON VIOLA

B♭ Mixolydian

Major with a lowered 7th — folk, blues-rock, dominant-7 vocabulary.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
Meter:Octave per barCrotchets in 4/4Quavers in 4/4Triplets in 4/4
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 3 title B♭ Mixolydian
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 3 4 5 title B♭ Mixolydian
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
B♭G stringADGCoctave nodeoctave nodeoctave nodeoctave nodeB♭CDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
Compare with
Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the B♭ Mixolydian scale?

The B♭ Mixolydian scale uses the notes B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Mixolydian scale formula?

The Mixolydian scale follows the interval pattern W W H W W H W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on B♭ to get the B♭ Mixolydian scale.

What chords work over B♭ Mixolydian?

Mixolydian works over dominant 7th chords (V7, I7 in blues). The signature mode for blues-rock and Celtic music.

How do I finger B♭ Mixolydian on Viola?

On bowed strings, scales train both fingering and bow technique. First-position fingerings cover most scales up to one octave; second-, third-, and fourth-position shifts unlock the higher register. The 1-2-3-4 finger pattern adapts to the half-step + whole-step positions per scale.

When would I use the Mixolydian scale?

Major with a lowered 7th — folk, blues-rock, dominant-7 vocabulary.