A Mixolydian

Bluesy, dominant, rock — built from D major

PARENT FAMILY · D MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (D major). A Mixolydian is the V mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	D Ionian	Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	E Dorian	Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	F♯ Phrygian	F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	G Lydian	Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	A Mixolydian	A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	B Aeolian	Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	C♯ Locrian	C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

A B C♯ D E F♯ G

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

The Mixolydian scale on A contains the notes A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G. The pentatonic subset is A, B, C♯, E, F♯.

Characteristic note: the ♭7 (flat seventh) gives it a bluesy, dominant feel.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

A7

II

Bm7

III

C♯m7♭5

IV

Dmaj7

V

Em7

VI

F♯m7

VII

Gmaj7

▸ Play A Mixolydian over A7 and A7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

A Mixolydian is a major mode with a bluesy, dominant, rock character. It is the V mode of D major — it uses the same 7 notes as D Ionian but is rooted on A, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is A7.

Where to use A Mixolydian

Blues, rock, country, funk.

Famous examples

Norwegian Wood (Beatles)
Sweet Home Chicago
Gimme Shelter

What makes it distinctive: the ♭7 (flat seventh) gives it a bluesy, dominant feel.

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