Mixolydian

The Mixolydian mode is a musical mode that is derived from the major scale. It has a bluesy or folk-like character and is often used in a variety of musical styles, including blues, rock, and jazz.

The Mixolydian mode is constructed using the following pattern of whole and half steps: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole. This pattern is similar to that of the major scale, with the exception of the seventh scale degree, which is lowered by a half step.

The Mixolydian mode is characterized by its dominant tonality, which is created by the combination of the major third and the dominant seventh intervals. These intervals give the Mixolydian mode its bluesy or folk-like character and make it a popular choice for music that has a laid-back or improvisatory feel.

To use the Mixolydian mode in your music, you can start by choosing a major scale and then altering the pattern of whole and half steps to create the Mixolydian mode. You can then use this mode as the foundation for your melodies and harmonies, using the dominant tonality to create a bluesy or folk-like sound.

The Mixolydian mode is a popular and widely used mode.

Example Diagram

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
G - A - B - C - D - E - F - G
  W   W   H   W   W   H   W

The "Whole" (W) and "Half" (H) labels represent the intervals between the notes of the scale. A whole step is equal to two half steps, and a half step is equal to one piano key (black or white). They are also known as tones and semitones.

The 1st degree of the scale is the tonic, the 2nd degree is the supertonic, the 3rd degree is the mediant, the 4th degree is the subdominant, the 5th degree is the dominant, the 6th degree is the submediant, and the 7th degree is the leading tone. In the key of G, the Mixolydian mode would consist of the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, and F.

To build the Mixolydian mode starting from the key of C, you would use the following notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, and B♭. The Mixolydian mode is a major scale, and it is characterized by a lowered 7th degree of the scale compared to the Ionian mode (also known as the major scale). In the key of C, the Ionian mode consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. To create the Mixolydian mode from the Ionian mode, you would simply lower the 7th degree of the scale by a half step, resulting in the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B♭.

Mixolydian mode in C:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7  - 8
C - D - E - F - G - A - B♭ - C
  W   W   H   W   W   H   W

Examples

Here are a few examples of music that uses the Mixolydian mode:

• "Sweet Home Chicago" by Robert Johnson: This blues classic is written in the Mixolydian mode and has a bluesy and improvisatory character.
• "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin: This rock ballad is written in the Mixolydian mode and has a laid-back and introspective character.
• "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey: This rock hit is written in the Mixolydian mode and has a upbeat and optimistic character.
• "So What" by Miles Davis: This jazz piece is written in the Mixolydian mode and has a cool and relaxed character.
• "Summertime" by The Mamas & The Papas: This folk-pop hit is written in the Mixolydian mode and has a laid-back and nostalgiciac character.

These are just a few examples of the many musical styles and genres that make use of the Mixolydian mode. By listening to these and other examples of music that use the Mixolydian mode, you can get a sense of the character and mood of this mode and how it is used in a variety of musical contexts.