The Mixolydian mode is the fifth mode of the major scale, built from the pattern W–W–H–W–W–H–W, or 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 semitones. G Mixolydian is G, A, B, C, D, E, F, and it sounds major but with a relaxed, bluesy 7th that sets it apart from the major scale.
What is the Mixolydian mode?
The Mixolydian mode is the fifth mode of the major scale, built from the pattern whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, or in semitones, 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10. G Mixolydian is G, A, B, C, D, E, F, the notes of the C major scale starting on G. It sounds major, because its 3rd is major, but it has a relaxed, bluesy quality that the major scale does not have, because its 7th is minor. The Mixolydian mode is the sound of rock, blues, country and folk, wherever a major sound is wanted without the formality of the major scale. The minor 7th is the note that does it: in G Mixolydian the 7th is F, a minor 7th above G, while in G major the 7th is F#, a major 7th, and that one semitone relaxes the whole scale, removing the leading-note pull toward the tonic. The result is a scale that sounds major but laid back, like a major scale that has decided not to hurry home. The G mixolydian scale shows the notes, and the G major scale shows the major version for comparison.
How the Mixolydian mode works
Compare Mixolydian with the major scale on the same root, and only one note differs: the 7th. G major is G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, while G Mixolydian is G, A, B, C, D, E, F. The 3rd is major in both, the 6th is major in both, and the 7th is the only note that changes, from major to minor. That single lowered note is what gives Mixolydian its character: the scale sounds major, but the minor 7th removes the leading-note pull, and it creates a minor vii chord, F major in the key of G Mixolydian, where the major scale gives a diminished vii chord. The Mixolydian mode fits over a dominant 7th chord, which is why it is the most important mode in rock and blues: the V chord of a major key is a dominant 7th chord, and the Mixolydian mode is the scale that fits it. In a I–IV–V progression in C major, the V chord is G7, and the G Mixolydian scale, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, fits it perfectly, because the minor 7th, F, is the 7th of the chord. The G7 guitar chord is the chord Mixolydian belongs to, and the I–IV–V progression in C major is where it is used most.
Worked example — C Mixolydian. C Mixolydian is the fifth mode of the F major scale, so it contains the notes F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, starting on C: C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb, spelled C, D, E, F, G, A, A# in the sharp-only system used by ChordFlow. Compare it with C major, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and only the 7th differs: Bb in Mixolydian, B in major. The lowered 7th gives C Mixolydian a minor vii chord, Bb major, where C major gives B diminished, and that flat VII chord is the sound that marks a song as Mixolydian. Play C Mixolydian over a C7 chord and listen for the Bb fitting the dominant chord. The C mixolydian scale shows the notes, and the C7 guitar chord is the chord it fits.
How to practise the Mixolydian mode
Practise Mixolydian by comparing it with major on the same root, so your ear learns the single note that makes the mode what it is.
- Play the G major scale and then the G mixolydian scale, and listen for the 7th dropping from F# to F.
- Improvise over a G7 chord using the G Mixolydian scale, and notice how the minor 7th, F, sounds relaxed and bluesy against the dominant chord.
- Play the modes of C major in order, and stop on Mixolydian, listening for the major sound with a relaxed 7th that sets it apart from Ionian and Lydian.
- On guitar, learn the Mixolydian shape in one position, then move it to a new root and name the parent major scale it comes from.
- Use the scale finder to find the Mixolydian mode of any major scale, and check that its 7th is minor.
Common mistakes
- Playing major instead of Mixolydian — The major scale has a major 7th, while Mixolydian has a minor 7th, and using the wrong one over a dominant 7th chord will clash on the 7th. Check the 7th before you play.
- Forgetting the parent major scale — Mixolydian is the fifth mode of a major scale, so G Mixolydian comes from C major, not from G major. If you build Mixolydian from the major scale on the same root, you will get the wrong notes.
- Using Mixolydian over a major 7th chord — Mixolydian is a dominant mode, with a minor 7th, so it clashes with a major 7th chord, which needs a major 7th. It fits dominant 7th chords, not major 7th chords, so check the chord before you choose the mode.
Quick reference
This table lists the Mixolydian mode in six keys, with the parent major scale in the last column so you can see that each Mixolydian scale comes from the major scale a perfect 4th below it. G Mixolydian comes from C major, C Mixolydian comes from F major, and the pattern holds for every row: the parent major scale is always a perfect 4th below the Mixolydian root.
| Mixolydian mode | Notes | Parent major scale |
|---|---|---|
| G Mixolydian | G – A – B – C – D – E – F | C major |
| C Mixolydian | C – D – E – F – G – A – A# | F major |
| D Mixolydian | D – E – F# – G – A – B – C | G major |
| A Mixolydian | A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G | D major |
| E Mixolydian | E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D | A major |
| F Mixolydian | F – G – A – A# – C – D – D# | A# major |
Work through the table by building each Mixolydian scale from its parent major scale, starting the parent scale on its fifth degree, and checking your answers against the rows. When you can do that without looking, compare each Mixolydian scale with the major scale on the same root, and name the lowered 7th in each case.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in G Mixolydian?
G, A, B, C, D, E, F. They are the notes of the C major scale starting on G, and the interval pattern is 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 semitones above the root.
How is Mixolydian different from major?
One note: the 7th. Mixolydian has a minor 7th, while major has a major 7th. In G Mixolydian the 7th is F, while in G major it is F#, and that one semitone gives Mixolydian its relaxed, bluesy sound.
What chord does Mixolydian fit over?
A dominant 7th chord, especially the V chord of a major key. Mixolydian is the scale for the V chord, and it fits G7 in the key of C major, C7 in the key of F major, and D7 in the key of G major.
Where is the Mixolydian mode used?
In rock, blues, country and folk, wherever a major sound is wanted without the formality of the major scale. It is the mode of the dominant 7th chord, and it appears in almost every rock and blues song that uses a V chord.
Is Mixolydian major or minor?
Major, because its 3rd is major, four semitones above the root. The minor 7th makes it sound more relaxed than the major scale, but the major 3rd is what decides the quality, and it is major.