F Mixolydian Scale on Piano

The F Mixolydian scale sounds bright but unresolved. It runs F – G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb and is written with two flats.

It shares its key signature with D minor, its relative minor.

Interval Circle

WWHWWHWC5DbD6Ebb7EF1GbG2AbA3Bb4B

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

Why this fingering

2 black keys (Bb, Eb) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto C; 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 F Mixolydian

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
FF4Root (1)15
GG4Major 2nd (2)24
AA4Major 3rd (3)33
BbBb4Perfect 4th (4)42
CC5Perfect 5th (5)11
DD5Major 6th (6)23
EbEb5Minor 7th (b7)32
FF5Octave (8)41

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# – 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
B Mixolydian
B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A

Other F Scales

F Major
F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E
F Natural Minor
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb
F Harmonic Minor
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – E
F Melodic Minor
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D – E
F Major Pentatonic
F – G – A – C – D
F Minor Pentatonic
F – Ab – Bb – C – Eb
F Blues
F – Ab – Bb – B – C – Eb
F Dorian
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D – Eb
F Chromatic
F – Gb – G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E