Ab Mixolydian ♭6
The 5th mode of melodic minor, with lowered 6th and minor 7th degrees; its dominant sound points toward a minor tonic.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Ab Mixolydian ♭6
- Family
- Melodic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – H – W – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-2-1-2-1-2-2
Notes & degrees
1Abroot
2Bbmajor 2nd
3Cmajor 3rd
4Dbperfect 4th
5Ebperfect 5th
b6Fbminor 6th
b7Gbminor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- The 5th mode of melodic minor, with lowered 6th and minor 7th degrees; its dominant sound points toward a minor tonic.
- Application in music
- The fifth degree of melodic minor. Sits over V7 resolving to minor.
- Interval formula
- AbWBbWCHDbWEbHFbWGb
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IAbpoint of resttonic
IIICdefines modal qualitythird
VEbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIICC
IVDbDb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IAbAb
IIBbBb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Ab Mixolydian ♭6 looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.