‘B flat mixolydian’ is the 5th mode of the Eb Major scale. The notes in Bb Mixolydian are:
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab
If you have read the post on understanding the mixolydian mode, you will know that the mixolydian mode contains a ‘flat 7’ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 5th mode of the major scale (derivative approach).
Because the flat 7′ (or ‘lowered 7’) is the only difference between the mixolydian mode and the major scale, it is a very simple mode to analyze.
The Bb mixolydian mode is the default scale that is used to improvise over Bb dominant 7 chords.
Let’s briefly look at how to construct Bb mixolydian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
Bb Mixolydian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
Bb major scale has the following notes:
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – A
If we ‘lower’ the 7th note, we get the following:
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab
Bb Mixolydian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
Bb is the 5th note of the Eb major scale:
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D
If we play the Eb major scale and start on the 5th note we get the following:
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab
Let’s look at the Bb mixolydian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
Bb Mixolydian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
Bb Mixolydian CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at Bb mixolydian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
Bb Mixolydian 3rd Position (Lowest Fret is 3)
Bb Mixolydian 4th Position (Lowest Fret is 4)
Bb Mixolydian 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)
Bb Mixolydian 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)
Bb Mixolydian 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of Bb mixolydian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the mixolydian mode, check out mixolydian mode explained.
Further Reading
- Bb7 chord (Bb mixolydian works well over this chord).
- Bb7 arpeggio (Bb mixolydian is a great companion to the Bb dominant 7 arpeggio).
- Eb Major scale contains the mode of Bb mixolydian.
