What's the Mixolydian Mode ?
The Mixolydian mode is one of the seven diatonic modes derived from the major scale.
It is often used in music, particularly in jazz, rock, and blues genres.
To understand the Mixolydian mode, let's first look at how it's constructed:
1. Formula:
The Mixolydian mode is constructed by playing the major scale but starting on the fifth degree of the major scale.
In terms of intervals, the formula is:
Root (1) - Major 2nd (2) - Major 3rd (3) - Perfect 4th (4) - Perfect 5th (5) - Major 6th (6) - Minor 7th (b7)

2.Example:
Let's use the key of G as an example.
The G major scale consists of the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#.
To find the G Mixolydian mode, we start on the fifth degree of the G major scale, which is D, and play the notes D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C.
So, G Mixolydian is D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C.
3. Sound:
The Mixolydian mode has a distinctive sound characterized by the major 3rd and major 6th intervals, but it also has a dominant feel due to the lowered 7th (b7) interval.
This lowered 7th gives it a bluesy or rock-oriented sound, making it a popular choice for creating tension and resolution in music.
4.Use:
Musicians often use the Mixolydian mode when they want to add a bluesy or rock flavor to their playing.
It's commonly used over dominant 7th chords (e.g., G7 in the key of G Mixolydian) because the b7 note creates a strong sense of tension that resolves nicely to the root note.
In summary, the Mixolydian mode is a musical scale derived from the major scale but with a lowered 7th degree.
It has a unique sound and is frequently used in various musical genres.
In this lesson the phrases are based on four Mixolydian scales that are :
- A Mixolydian (A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G).
- D Mixolydian (D - E - F# - G - A - B - C).
- G Mixolydian (G - A - B - C - D - E - F).
- C Mixolydian (C - D - E - F - G - A - Bb).