Mixolydian Mode
Modal Structure
The Mixolydian mode is like a major scale with a flat 7th, giving it a bluesy, rock quality. It appears in rock, blues, folk, and Celtic music and is essential for dominant chord improvisation.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Formula | W-W-H-W-W-H-W |
| C Mixolydian Mode Notes | C, D, E, F, G, A, A# |
| Scale Degrees | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - ♭7 |
| Parent Scale | C Mixolydian is the 5th mode of F Major |
Characteristic Notes & Sound
- Characteristic Note
- Minor 7th (flat 7th vs major scale)
- Tonal Color
- Blues-rock, dominant feel — rock and Celtic music
Genre Context & Song Examples
Mixolydian is the mode of rock and blues — the flat 7 gives the dominant chord its bluesy, unresolved quality. Nearly every blues uses mixolydian vocabulary.
- Sweet Home Chicago — Robert Johnson
- Clocks — Coldplay
- Norwegian Wood — The Beatles
Diatonic Chords
| Degree | C Mixolydian Mode Chord | Triad Quality |
|---|---|---|
| I | C Major | Major |
| II | D Minor | Minor |
| III | E Diminished | Diminished |
| IV | F Major | Major |
| V | G Minor | Minor |
| VI | A Minor | Minor |
| VII | A# Major | Major |
Related Scales & Keys
Full Mixolydian Mode scale reference — all 12 keys with note names, diatonic chords, and key signatures.
Major Scale reference — see how modes relate to the parent major scale.