B flat Mixolydian scale on cavaquinho
The B flat Mixolydian scale has 7 notes: B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ (B flat, C, D, E flat, F, G, and A flat).
- B♭ B flat 1
- C 2
- D 3
- E♭ E flat 4
- F 5
- G 6
- A♭ A flat ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (B♭) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 5 (frets 3 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 3 (F), 5 (G), 6 (A♭)
- string 3: 3 (B♭), 5 (C), 7 (D)
- string 2: 4 (E♭), 6 (F)
- string 1: 5 (G), 6 (A♭)
Position 6 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 6 (A♭), 8 (B♭)
- string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D), 8 (E♭)
- string 2: 6 (F), 8 (G), 9 (A♭)
- string 1: 8 (B♭)
Position 7 (frets 6 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 6 (A♭), 8 (B♭), 10 (C)
- string 3: 7 (D), 8 (E♭), 10 (F)
- string 2: 8 (G), 9 (A♭)
- string 1: 8 (B♭), 10 (C)
Position 1 (frets 8 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 8 (B♭), 10 (C), 12 (D)
- string 3: 8 (E♭), 10 (F), 12 (G)
- string 2: 9 (A♭), 11 (B♭)
- string 1: 10 (C), 12 (D)
Position 2 (frets 10 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D), 13 (E♭)
- string 3: 10 (F), 12 (G), 13 (A♭)
- string 2: 11 (B♭), 13 (C)
- string 1: 12 (D), 13 (E♭)
Position 3 (frets 12 to 16), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 12 (D), 13 (E♭), 15 (F)
- string 3: 12 (G), 13 (A♭), 15 (B♭)
- string 2: 13 (C), 15 (D), 16 (E♭)
- string 1: 15 (F)
Position 4 (frets 13 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 13 (E♭), 15 (F), 17 (G)
- string 3: 13 (A♭), 15 (B♭), 17 (C)
- string 2: 15 (D), 16 (E♭)
- string 1: 15 (F), 17 (G)
Fretboard positions
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (B flat).
On the cavaquinho the strings sit close together in pitch, and the 3-notes-per-string shape from the guitar would turn into a 7-fret stretch. That is why each position here fits within 5 frets.
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- B♭
- W
- C
- W
- D
- H
- E♭
- W
- F
- W
- G
- H
- A♭
- W
- B♭
Degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7. Steps: W – W – H – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the Mixolydian scale
A major mode with a minor 7th. The sound of classic rock and blues; fits dominant seventh chords.
Harmonized scale (chords in the key)
The chords that come from the scale, stacking thirds from each note.
Scales with the same notes
More B flat scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian (A♯)
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Mixolydian in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the B flat Mixolydian scale?
The notes of the B flat Mixolydian scale are B flat, C, D, E flat, F, G, and A flat. The root, degree 1, is B flat.
What is the formula of the B flat Mixolydian scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: W – W – H – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the B flat Mixolydian scale on cavaquinho?
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (B flat). There are 7 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.
Which chords belong to the B flat Mixolydian scale?
The chords of the harmonized scale are: B♭, Cm, D°, E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭.