The Mixolydian Mode

In this scale lesson we will be learning more about the fifth mode of the major scale, the mixolydian mode. The mixolydian mode is a commonly used scale and is frequently heard in all kinds of music ranging from jazz to country to rock.

The mixolydian mode is simply a major scale with a minor seventh. The mixolydian mode is used specifically to play over standard dominant seventh chords. I have written out the notes of the mixolydian scale below.

The notes of the mixolydian mode in the key of C are:

C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb

The intervals of the mixolydian scale are:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7

The most common use for the mixolydian scale is to play over dominant seven chords.

The notes of a dominant seven chord are:

1, 3, 5, b7

Within the C mixolydian scale you can find the following chords:

C7, Dm7, Em7b5, Fmaj7, Gm7, Am7, Bbmaj7

If you want to hear the sound of the mixolydian scale for yourself, try playing it over a static dominant 7 vamp. The mixolydian mode is an important scale to learn for jazz players simply because we deal with dominant seven chords so often.