Piano: Mixolydian Scales and Mode

What is Mixolydian?

You may have heard of the term “Mixolydian”. What does it mean in music? According to Hello Music Theory, each major key has seven diatonic scales with different formulas and sounds. 

OnlineGuitarBooks says that Mixolydian is the fifth mode of the major scale. In addition, the only difference between a Mixolydian and Major scale is that a Mixolydian scale has a slightly lower seventh note. OnlineGuitarBooks uses D Mixolydian relating to G Major as an example. D Mixolydian has all of G Major’s notes, but the scale starts with D instead of G. This setup takes place because D is the fifth note of the G Major scale. D Mixolydian is similar to D Major, except D Mixolydian has a C instead of a C# as its seventh note. Hello Music Theory lists the Mixolydian step formula as W-W-H-W-W-H-W.

What does Mixolydian sound like in music?

According to Spinditty, Mixolydian often has a blues or folk sound to the music. For example, using F in G Mixolydian gives a piece a different flavour from the F# in G Major. If you practice both G Major and G Mixolydian, you will likely notice the difference with the music feel.

The video below shows me demonstrating Mixolydian scales on my keyboard.

What are the Mixolydian scales?

Hello Music Theory also shows the Mixolydian scales below:

G Mixolydian: G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G

Ab Mixolydian: Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb-F-Gb-Ab

A Mixolydian: A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G-A

Bb Mixolydian: Bb-C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb

B Mixolydian: B-C#-D#-E-F#-G#-A-B

C Mixolydian: C-D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C

C# Mixolydian: C#-D#-E#-F#-G#-A#-B-C#

D Mixolydian: D-E-F#-G-A-B-C-D

Eb Mixolydian: Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb

E Mixolydian: E-F#-G#-A-B-C#-D-E

F Mixolydian: F-G-A-Bb-C-D-Eb-F

F# Mixolydian: F#-G#-A#-B-C#-D#-E-F#

What are some popular songs that use Mixolydian?

How about some standout Mixolydian songs? Hooktheory has lots of information on what pieces are in what keys and has piano guides for thousands of popular songs.

G Mixolydian: Man In The Mirror- Michael Jackson

Ab Mixolydian: Macarena- Los Del Rio

A Mixolydian: You And I- Lady Gaga

Bb Mixolydian: Spectrum – Arty Remix by Zedd

B Mixolydian: Rasputin- Boney M

C Mixolydian: Love Shack- The B-52S

C# Mixolydian: Sweet Child O’ Mine- Guns N’ Roses

D Mixolydian: Sweet Home Alabama- Lynyrd Skynyrd

Eb Mixolydian: Beautiful- Christina Aguilera

E Mixolydian: Don’t You Forget About Me- Simple Minds

F Mixolydian: My Doorbell- The White Stripes

F# Mixolydian: No Air- Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

I encourage you to try out this unique sounding mode.