Mixolydian Mode - Modern Mixolydian

Modern Mixolydian

This modern scale has the same series of tones and semitones as the major scale, except the seventh degree is a semitone lower. The Mixolydian mode is sometimes called the dominant scale, because it is the mode built on the fifth degree (the dominant) of the major scale. The flattened seventh of the scale is a tritone away from the mediant (major-third degree) of the key.

Being based on the dominant seventh chord, it is common in non-classical harmony, such as jazz, funk, blues and rock music.

The order of tones and semitones in a Mixolydian scale is TTSTTST (T = tone; S = semitone), while the major scale is TTSTTTS. The key signature varies accordingly (it will be the same as that of the major key a fifth below).

Some examples:

• The G Mixolydian mode (Related to the key of C major - on a piano it is all the white keys from one G to the next. GABCDEFG)
• The C Mixolydian mode (Related to the key of F major. CDEFGAB♭C)
• The D Mixolydian mode (Related to the key of G major. DEF♯GABCD)
• The E Mixolydian mode (Related to the key of A major. EF♯G♯ABC♯DE)