E Mixolydian scale
E Mixolydian is E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D. Mixolydian: a major scale with a lowered seventh, the fifth mode of the major pattern, common in blues, rock, and folk melody.
- Formula
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
- Steps
- W W H W W H W
- Notes
- 7
- Key signature
- 3 sharps
- Mode
- Mode 5 of A major
Notes and degrees
The E Mixolydian scale has seven notes: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D. Each degree is named by its distance from the tonic, E.
| Degree | Note | Interval above E | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P1 | tonic | |
| 2 | M2 | supertonic | |
| 3 | M3 | mediant | |
| 4 | P4 | subdominant | |
| 5 | P5 | dominant | |
| 6 | M6 | submediant | |
| 7 | m7 | subtonic |
On the piano
Every key of the scale is lit in its own colour. Click one to hear it.
On the guitar
Every E scale tone on the first twelve frets in standard tuning. The tonic is ringed. Click a dot to hear the note.
Chords in E Mixolydian
Stacking thirds on each degree gives a triad and a seventh chord. The numerals are measured from the tonic against the major scale, so a ♭ means that chord root is lower than in major.
What it sounds like
Mixolydian follows the pattern whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole. It matches the major scale except that the seventh is lowered by a half step, so the scale ends a whole step below the octave. The lowered seventh removes the leading tone, so a dominant seventh chord built on the tonic points toward the fourth degree rather than back to the root. The scale sounds major and open, with a relaxed, unresolved quality that many listeners hear as bluesy or folk-like.
Where you hear it
Mixolydian is common in blues and blues-rock, where the dominant seventh chord on the tonic is the characteristic sound. Rock riffs and guitar solos often use the scale over dominant chords. Many Celtic and English folk melodies have a lowered seventh and sit comfortably in this mode. Jazz players use the scale over dominant seventh chords, and it is a standard starting point for improvising on them. Pop songs in major with a flattened seventh borrow its color.
How it is built
Mixolydian is the fifth mode of the major pattern, the rotation that starts on G. On C, its pitches are C D E F G A B♭, the same notes as F major, so C Mixolydian is the fifth mode of F major. Its diatonic triads on C are C major, D minor, E diminished, F major, G minor, A minor, and B♭ major. Compared with major, it differs in one note: the seventh is lowered. The dominant seventh C7 is the characteristic chord, since its flat seventh is the scale's lowered seventh.
Scales with the same notes
These scales use the same seven pitches as E Mixolydian, starting from a different note.
Other E scales
- E major
- E natural minor
- E harmonic minor
- E melodic minor
- E Dorian
- E Phrygian
- E Lydian
- E Locrian
- E major pentatonic
- E minor pentatonic
- E blues
- E whole-tone
- E diminished (whole–half)
- E diminished (half–whole)
- E Phrygian dominant
- E Lydian dominant
- E altered
- E double harmonic major
- E Hungarian minor
- E bebop dominant
How to practise it
Play G Mixolydian on the white keys, G A B C D E F G, against a drone on G. Then play C major and C Mixolydian in turn, lowering the seventh, and listen for the change. Over a C7 vamp, improvise with C Mixolydian and target the B♭ on strong beats, then move to the chord's third, E.
Further reading
- Church Modes From Dorian to Locrian: A Practical GuideFundamentals · 7 min
- Chord-Scale Theory Explained: Which Scale Fits Which ChordJazz & Popular Harmony · 7 min
Questions
What are the notes of the E Mixolydian scale?
The E Mixolydian scale is E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D. Written ascending it returns to E an octave higher.
What is the formula for the E Mixolydian scale?
The formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 measured from the major scale. As steps that is W, W, H, W, W, H, W (W is a whole step, H a half step).
What key signature does E Mixolydian use?
E Mixolydian is written with 3 sharps in the key signature.
Which chords belong to E Mixolydian?
Stacking thirds on each degree gives the triads E, F♯m, G♯dim, A, Bm, C♯m, D.
What is the difference between Mixolydian and major?
Mixolydian is the major scale with the seventh degree lowered by a half step. On C, major is C D E F G A B and Mixolydian is C D E F G A B♭. The lowered seventh removes the leading tone, so the tonic's dominant seventh points to the fourth.
What chord goes with Mixolydian?
The key chord is a dominant seventh built on the tonic, such as C7 in C Mixolydian. Its notes C E G B♭ all belong to the scale. The diatonic triads are C major, D minor, E diminished, F major, G minor, A minor, and B♭ major. Blues and rock often move it to the fourth.
Where is Mixolydian used?
Mixolydian appears in blues, rock, country, and many folk traditions, including Celtic and English tunes. Guitarists use it for riffs and solos over dominant seventh chords. Jazz players use the scale built from the dominant chord's root for the same job, and it is one of the main tools for dominant chords in jazz teaching.