B Mixolydian Scale on Piano

The B Mixolydian scale sounds bright but unresolved. It runs B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A and is written with four sharps.

It shares its key signature with G# minor, its relative minor.

Interval Circle

WWHWWHWCC#2DD#3E4FF#5GG#6Ab7A#B1

All twelve semitones, root at the top. Filled dots are the notes of the scale, the outer numbers are their degrees, and W / H mark the whole and half steps between them.

About This Scale

A major scale with a flattened 7th. Losing the leading tone removes the pull back to the tonic, so the scale can sit on a dominant chord indefinitely — the sound of blues-rock riffs and Celtic tunes.

Fingering

Right Hand (ascending)

1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5

Left Hand (ascending)

4-3-2-1-4-3-2-1

Why this fingering

4 black keys (C#, D#, F#, G#) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto E; let the elbow drift slightly outward as it passes rather than twisting the wrist.

The blue dots on the piano below show which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Notes in B Mixolydian

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
BB4Root (1)14
C#C#5Major 2nd (2)23
D#D#5Major 3rd (3)32
EE5Perfect 4th (4)11
F#F#5Perfect 5th (5)24
G#G#5Major 6th (6)33
AA5Minor 7th (b7)42
BB5Octave (8)51

Other Mixolydian Scales

C Mixolydian
C – D – E – F – G – A – Bb
Db Mixolydian
Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb
D Mixolydian
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C
Eb Mixolydian
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db
E Mixolydian
E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D
F Mixolydian
F – G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb
F# Mixolydian
F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E
G Mixolydian
G – A – B – C – D – E – F
Ab Mixolydian
Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb
A Mixolydian
A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G
Bb Mixolydian
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab

Other B Scales

B Major
B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A#
B Natural Minor
B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A
B Harmonic Minor
B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A#
B Melodic Minor
B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A#
B Major Pentatonic
B – C# – D# – F# – G#
B Minor Pentatonic
B – D – E – F# – A
B Blues
B – D – E – F – F# – A
B Dorian
B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A
B Chromatic
B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A#