A Mixolydian B6 Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
A Mixolydian B6 Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Mixolydian B6 scale is a melancholic dominant scale used when a song is in a major key but the dominant chord needs to resolve into a minor key. On Guitar, the notes are A, B, C#, D, E, F, G. It provides a bridge between the bright major and the sad minor worlds, perfect for emotional transitions. Commonly used in Jazz, Film Scores, Classical, Melodic Metal. Notable players include Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone. Use over dominant 7th chords that resolve to minor (V7 → im). The scale that bridges major happiness and minor sadness.
Notes: A, B, C#, D, E, F, G
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-W-H-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: melodic minor fifth mode, hindu
How to Play A Mixolydian B6 on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 5 on the 6th (low E) to find your A root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position using open A string.
The A Mixolydian B6 scale contains 1 sharp (C#). Its relative minor is F minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A Mixolydian B6 scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-C#, B-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Mixolydian B6 scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the A Mixolydian B6 scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The A Mixolydian B6 scale contains 7 notes (A, B, C#, D, E, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Mixolydian B6
The A Mixolydian B6 scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Mixolydian B6 Further
- Harmonize the A Mixolydian B6 scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Mixolydian B6 on Ukulele
- A Mixolydian B6 on Bass
- A Mixolydian B6 on Piano
Explore A Mixolydian B6 in Other Tunings
- A Mixolydian B6 in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Mixolydian B6 in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Mixolydian B6 in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Mixolydian B6 in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Mixolydian B6 in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)