B Mixolydian

Bluesy, dominant, rock — built from E major

PARENT FAMILY · E MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	E Ionian	Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	F♯ Dorian	F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	G♯ Phrygian	G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	A Lydian	Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	B Mixolydian	B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	C♯ Aeolian	C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	D♯ Locrian	D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

B7

II

C♯m7

III

D♯m7♭5

IV

Emaj7

V

F♯m7

VI

G♯m7

VII

Amaj7

▸ Play B Mixolydian over B7 and B7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

B Mixolydian is a major mode with a bluesy, dominant, rock character. It is the V mode of E major — it uses the same 7 notes as E Ionian but is rooted on B, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is B7.

Where to use B 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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