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Music Theory

Mixolydian Scales

The Mixolydian scale is a variant of the natural major scale with a single change: the seventh degree is lowered a half step (UK: semitone). That one alteration creates the characteristic modal sound of the fifth mode of the major scale, which is very common in jazz, blues, rock and folk music.

It is also called the Mixolydian mode and in major-scale teaching it is the major scale with a lowered 7th (♭7). It is the 5th of the Greek modes. Its pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H) is W-W-H-W-W-H-W. Because it shares its notes with the dominant seventh chord, it has the "dominant" color that is so typical of blues and rock.

In the Spanish conservatory scheme this scale is one of four "types" of major scale (natural, Mixolydian, "mixed main" = harmonic major, and "mixed secondary" = melodic major). Outside that scheme it is simply the Mixolydian scale.

Start from the natural major scale:

C major (natural), no accidentals: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Between one note and the next: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.

Lower the seventh degree by a half step and you get the Mixolydian scale:

C Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: C, D, E, F, G, A, B♭, C. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: B♭.

In the examples, the lowered note is shown in red to make it easy to spot. You do not need to mark it in exercises.

The scales are shown in two ways: with the accidentals written inside the scale, and with a key signature. Both are equivalent.

Interval pattern

The pattern of whole steps and half steps of the Mixolydian scale is W–W–H–W–W–H–W. It is identical to the natural major scale except at the seventh degree. In the major scale the step from degree 7 up to the octave is a diatonic half step (the leading tone). In the Mixolydian scale it is a whole step, so the seventh is a subtonic (a "flat seventh") and the scale has no leading tone.

Degree12345678
Step from previous note—WWHWWHW
C MixolydianCDEFGAB♭C
C majorCDEFGABC

Thanks to this pattern, the Mixolydian scale is the same as the fifth mode of a major scale: C Mixolydian has the same notes as F major, starting from its fifth degree.

Table of all 15 Mixolydian scales

Scale123456♭7Difference from the major scale
C MixolydianCDEFGAB♭B→B♭
G MixolydianGABCDEF♮F♯→F♮
D MixolydianDEF♯GABC♮C♯→C♮
A MixolydianABC♯DEF♯G♮G♯→G♮
E MixolydianEF♯G♯ABC♯D♮D♯→D♮
B MixolydianBC♯D♯EF♯G♯A♮A♯→A♮
F♯ MixolydianF♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♮E♯→E♮
C♯ MixolydianC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯A♯B♮B♯→B♮
F MixolydianFGAB♭CDE♭E→E♭
B♭ MixolydianB♭CDE♭FGA♭A→A♭
E♭ MixolydianE♭FGA♭B♭CD♭D→D♭
A♭ MixolydianA♭B♭CD♭E♭FG♭G→G♭
D♭ MixolydianD♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭C→C♭
G♭ MixolydianG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭F♭F→F♭
C♭ MixolydianC♭D♭E♭F♭G♭A♭B double flatB♭→B double flat

Accidentals written inside the scale

Mixolydian scales with sharps

G Mixolydian

G Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♮, G. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: F♮.

D Mixolydian

D Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♮, D. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: C♮.

A Mixolydian

A Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♮, A. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: G♮.

E Mixolydian

E Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♮, E. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: D♮.

B Mixolydian

B Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♮, B. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: A♮.

F♯ Mixolydian

F♯ Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♮, F♯. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: E♮.

C♯ Mixolydian

C♯ Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♮, C♯. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: B♮.

Mixolydian scales with flats

F Mixolydian

F Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: E♭.

B♭ Mixolydian

B♭ Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: A♭.

E♭ Mixolydian

E♭ Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: D♭.

A♭ Mixolydian

A♭ Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: G♭.

D♭ Mixolydian

D♭ Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: C♭.

G♭ Mixolydian

G♭ Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: F♭.

C♭ Mixolydian

C♭ Mixolydian, with the accidentals written next to each note: C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B double flat, C♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: B double flat.

Accidentals in the key signature

Mixolydian scales with sharps

G Mixolydian

G Mixolydian with a key signature of 1 sharp: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♮, G. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: F♮.

D Mixolydian

D Mixolydian with a key signature of 2 sharps: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♮, D. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: C♮.

A Mixolydian

A Mixolydian with a key signature of 3 sharps: A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♮, A. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: G♮.

E Mixolydian

E Mixolydian with a key signature of 4 sharps: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♮, E. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: D♮.

B Mixolydian

B Mixolydian with a key signature of 5 sharps: B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♮, B. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: A♮.

F♯ Mixolydian

F♯ Mixolydian with a key signature of 6 sharps: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♮, F♯. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: E♮.

C♯ Mixolydian

C♯ Mixolydian with a key signature of 7 sharps: C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♮, C♯. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: B♮.

Mixolydian scales with flats

F Mixolydian

F Mixolydian with a key signature of 1 flat: F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: E♭.

B♭ Mixolydian

B♭ Mixolydian with a key signature of 2 flats: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: A♭.

E♭ Mixolydian

E♭ Mixolydian with a key signature of 3 flats: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: D♭.

A♭ Mixolydian

A♭ Mixolydian with a key signature of 4 flats: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: G♭.

D♭ Mixolydian

D♭ Mixolydian with a key signature of 5 flats: D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: C♭.

G♭ Mixolydian

G♭ Mixolydian with a key signature of 6 flats: G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: F♭.

C♭ Mixolydian

C♭ Mixolydian with a key signature of 7 flats: C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B double flat, C♭. In red, the note that changes from the natural major scale: B double flat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mixolydian scale?
The Mixolydian scale is a major scale with the seventh degree lowered a half step. It has a major triad and a dominant seventh chord on its tonic, which gives it a relaxed, bluesy sound that is less "resolved" than the major scale.
How does the Mixolydian scale differ from the major scale?
The only difference is the seventh degree, which is lowered a half step in the Mixolydian scale. For example, C major has B natural, while C Mixolydian has B♭.
What is the Mixolydian scale used for?
It is the fifth mode of the major scale and is used constantly in folk, rock, blues and jazz. A common use is over a dominant seventh chord: C Mixolydian fits a C7 chord.
What are the notes of C Mixolydian?
C Mixolydian has the notes C-D-E-F-G-A-B♭. The only difference from C major is the B♭ in the seventh degree (C major has B).
Where does the name Mixolydian come from?
Mixolydian is the fifth mode of the major scale. Play the notes of C major starting on G (G-A-B-C-D-E-F) and you get G Mixolydian. The name comes from the Mixolydian mode of Greek and medieval modal theory, although the medieval mode is not the same scale as the ancient Greek one.