The B♭ Mixolydian is the 5th mode of the Bb Major scale. It has a bluesy, rock, funky, dominant, unresolved energy character. On guitar it appears at Position 5 in the fretboard pattern — root note Bb.
Notes in the B♭ Mixolydian
Bb
C
D
Eb
F
G
Ab
Bb · C · D · Eb · F · G · Ab
Step Formula
W = Whole step (2 frets) · H = Half step (1 fret)
W W H W W H W
Intervals
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Sound CharacterBluesy, rock, funky, dominant, unresolved energy
Parent Major ScaleBb Major — B♭ Mixolydian shares the same notes as Bb Major but starts on Bb
Best Used InBlues, Rock, Funk, Country, Folk
Famous ExamplesSweet Home Alabama, Norwegian Wood, Hey Joe (Hendrix)
Key insight: Mixolydian is major with a ♭7. That flattened note is the entire sound of blues-rock guitar.
The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond B♭ Mixolydian
The B♭ Mixolydian is one of 7 diatonic modes in the Dead Sea Scales system. Using the 5 Missing Notes™ framework, each mode generates 7 extended variations — giving you access to all 42 total modes in any key including B♭.
Same Mode, Every Key
The Mixolydian pattern is identical in every key — the formula never changes. Explore the same mode in other keys:
Home: B♭ Mixolydian is major territory — Ionian with a ♭7. Start here. Address: 5th mode of E♭ Ionian — the 5 Missing Notes are read from E♭, not B♭. Home vs Address →