How to Play a B Mixolydian Scale on Piano

Learning to play a B Mixolydian scale requires many of the same skills necessary to master an E major scale. Both B Mixolydian and E major share the same number of sharps, but the black keys fall in an entirely different order from one another. B Mixolydian offers several challenging finger crossings that force your wrist to be higher than the natural position and your fingers to be curled more than usual. B Mixolydian has four sharps (F#, C#, G# and D#) and shares its key signature with E major.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Practice with your right hand only. Place your thumb on B4 to begin. Ascend a major third interval through B natural, C# and D#. Bring your thumb under your middle finger to E4. Ascend the remaining perfect fifth interval through E, F#, G#, A and B natural. Your pinkie finger should land on B5 before you stop, one octave higher than the starting pitch.

2. Descend the B Mixolydian scale with your right hand. Beginning with your pinkie on B5, descend a perfect fifth interval through B natural, A natural, G#, F# and E. Cross your middle finger over your thumb to D#4. Descend the last major third interval through D#, C# and B natural. Your thumb should land on B4, the same pitch that you started the scale on. Keep your wrist raised off of the keyboard as you descend, especially as you make your final finger crossing at D#4.

3. Focus on your left hand only now. Place your ring finger on B3 to begin. Ascend a perfect fourth interval through B natural, C#, D# and E. Cross your finger over your thumb to F#3. Ascend the remaining perfect fourth interval through F#, G#, A and B natural. Your thumb should land on B4 before you stop, exactly one octave higher than the starting pitch.

4. Descend the B Mixolydian scale with your left hand. Beginning with your thumb on B4, descend a perfect fourth interval through B natural, A, G# and F#. Bring your thumb under your ring finger to E3. This crossing is a wide perfect fifth interval, so raise your wrist off of the keyboard so that your thumb has little chance of colliding with other fingers. Descend the last perfect fourth interval through E, D#, C# and B natural. Your ring finger should be last to touch B3.

5. Practice the scale with both hands at the same time. Start at a tempo of no more than 70 beats per minute. Slowly increase the tempo on your metronome to no more than 180 beats per minute.