Mixolydian Mode on Interactive Chord Finder

A Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A Mixolydian is the bread and butter of blues-rock guitar. Built on the 5th degree of D major, it shares those same notes but treats A as home. The open A string on guitar provides a natural drone, and the dominant 7th tonic (A7) is one of the most played chords in blues history. If you have ever bent a note over an A7 shuffle, you have been playing in A Mixolydian.

A♭ Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A♭ Mixolydian brings the Mixolydian sound into deep flat-key territory. Built on the 5th degree of D♭ major, it shares those same notes but treats A♭ as home. A♭7 chords appear throughout jazz, gospel, and R&B, and the scale’s five flats give it a warm, rich character on piano. The ♭7 (G♭) removes the leading tone’s pull and replaces it with the relaxed, dominant quality that defines every Mixolydian mode.

B Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

B Mixolydian brings the Mixolydian sound into sharp-key territory. Built on the 5th degree of E major, it shares those same notes but treats B as home. The B7 chord is a staple in blues, rock, and country, and B Mixolydian is the scale that colours melodies and solos over that chord. Four sharps might look daunting on paper, but the patterns on guitar and piano are comfortable once you know the parent key.

B♭ Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

B♭ Mixolydian is the home territory of jazz and blues horn players. Built on the 5th degree of E♭ major, it shares those same notes but treats B♭ as home. B♭7 is one of the most common chords in jazz standards and blues, and since B♭ is the concert pitch for many brass instruments, this mode appears constantly in ensemble music. Three flats keep it approachable on every instrument.

What Makes Mixolydian Different from Major?

The Mixolydian mode is almost identical to the major scale. The only difference is the flatted seventh degree — the note one whole step below the root instead of a half step. In B♭ Mixolydian, this means A♭ instead of A.

C Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

C Mixolydian takes the familiar territory of C and adds a bluesy edge. Built on the 5th degree of F major, it shares those same notes but treats C as home. The single difference from C major is B♭ instead of B — and that one flat is enough to transform the bright, resolved character of C major into something more relaxed and groove-oriented. C7 is one of the most common chords in blues and funk, and C Mixolydian is the scale that fits it perfectly.

C♯ Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

C♯ Mixolydian is the most sharp-heavy of the Mixolydian modes. Built on the 5th degree of F♯ major, it shares those same six sharps but treats C♯ as home. This mode includes E♯ — which sounds the same as F on the keyboard but is spelled E♯ to maintain correct interval relationships. While C♯ Mixolydian appears less frequently than simpler keys, understanding it completes your knowledge of the mode across all twelve roots and deepens your grasp of enharmonic spelling.

D Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

D Mixolydian is one of the most natural keys for blues and folk guitar. Built on the 5th degree of G major, it shares the same notes as G major but centres on D. The result is a warm, dominant sound — major in character but with the relaxed, unresolved quality that the ♭7 brings. If you have ever jammed over a D7 chord, you have already been in D Mixolydian territory.

E Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

E Mixolydian is the ultimate open-string blues key on guitar. Built on the 5th degree of A major, it shares those same notes but treats E as home. With both the low and high E strings available as open drones, this mode practically plays itself on guitar. The dominant 7th tonic (E7) is the foundation of countless blues songs, and E Mixolydian is the scale that gives those songs their melodic vocabulary.

E♭ Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

E♭ Mixolydian is a staple of jazz, soul, and horn-based music. Built on the 5th degree of A♭ major, it shares those same notes but treats E♭ as home. E♭7 appears throughout jazz standards, blues progressions, and funk arrangements. Four flats place it firmly in flat-key territory — comfortable for piano, brass, and reed players, while guitarists can access it via practical barre-chord positions.

What Makes Mixolydian Different from Major?

The Mixolydian mode is almost identical to the major scale. The only difference is the flatted seventh degree — the note one whole step below the root instead of a half step. In E♭ Mixolydian, this means D♭ instead of D.

F Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

F Mixolydian is the sound of New Orleans funk and horn sections. Built on the 5th degree of B♭ major, it shares those same notes but treats F as home. F7 is one of the most common chords in jazz and blues, and brass players in particular gravitate towards F Mixolydian because B♭ instruments read it comfortably. The two flats (B♭ and E♭) keep it manageable on any instrument.

What Makes Mixolydian Different from Major?

The Mixolydian mode is almost identical to the major scale. The only difference is the flatted seventh degree — the note one whole step below the root instead of a half step. In F Mixolydian, this means E♭ instead of E.

F♯ Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

F♯ Mixolydian ventures into five-sharp territory. Built on the 5th degree of B major, it shares those same notes but treats F♯ as home. While less common than Mixolydian modes in simpler keys, F♯7 chords appear regularly in jazz, funk, and progressive rock — and F♯ Mixolydian is the scale that fits over them. The ♭7 (E natural) gives the mode its characteristic relaxed dominant sound.

What Makes Mixolydian Different from Major?

G Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

G Mixolydian is the mode most guitarists play without even knowing it. Built on the 5th degree of C major, it contains the same notes as C major but treats G as home. The result is a sound that is brighter than minor but more relaxed than major — a bluesy, laid-back quality that has powered countless rock, blues, and folk songs. The single difference from G major is the ♭7: F natural instead of F♯.

Scales for Piano and Guitar: The Complete Reference Guide

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Scales are the raw material of music. Every melody you hum, every chord progression you play, and every solo you improvise draws from a scale of some kind. Whether you play piano, guitar, or any other instrument, knowing your scales unlocks the ability to understand, compose, and perform music with confidence.

This page is a single reference for the twelve most important scale types and modes in Western music. Each section explains what makes the scale distinctive and lists the notes for all twelve keys. Click any key name to read a detailed guide covering that scale’s intervals, diatonic chords, practical tips, and more.