D Mixolydian

Bluesy, dominant, rock — built from G major

PARENT FAMILY · G MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	G Ionian	Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	A Dorian	Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	B Phrygian	Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	C Lydian	Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	D Mixolydian	D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	E Aeolian	Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	F♯ Locrian	F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

D E F♯ G A B C

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

D7

II

Em7

III

F♯m7♭5

IV

Gmaj7

V

Am7

VI

Bm7

VII

Cmaj7

▸ Play D Mixolydian over D7 and D7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

D Mixolydian is a major mode with a bluesy, dominant, rock character. It is the V mode of G major — it uses the same 7 notes as G Ionian but is rooted on D, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is D7.

Where to use D 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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