F Mixolydian Mode
Notes in the F Mixolydian Mode
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | G | 391.995 Hz |
| 3 | Mediant | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | B♭ | 466.164 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 6 | Submediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | E♭ | 311.127 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | B♭ |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B♭ | C |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | E♭ |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E♭ | F |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | F | major |
| 2 | G | G minor | minor |
| 3 | A | A diminished | diminished |
| 4 | B♭ | B♭ | major |
| 5 | C | C minor | minor |
| 6 | D | D minor | minor |
| ♭7 | E♭ | E♭ | major |
Key Signature
1 ♭ — The F key signature uses B♭.
F Mixolydian Mode in Practice
The F Mixolydian Mode uses the key signature of 1 flat (B♭). F major has one flat (Bb) and a warm, pastoral quality. It is one of the most natural keys for wind instruments and is frequently used in orchestral and choral music. On guitar, F positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
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. When played starting on F, the 7 notes are F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭. In this key the signature has 1 flat (B♭). F is the home key of the French horn (horn in F) and a natural key for many brass and woodwind instruments. Jazz musicians encounter F constantly because it is the concert-pitch key when Bb instruments read in G, making it essential for jam sessions and lead sheet reading.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| B♭ | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E♭ | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: F Mixolydian Mode
F is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce F concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in F sound a major sixth lower.