E Mixolydian

Bluesy, dominant, rock — built from A major

PARENT FAMILY · A MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	A Ionian	Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	B Dorian	Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	C♯ Phrygian	C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	D Lydian	Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	E Mixolydian	E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	F♯ Aeolian	F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	G♯ Locrian	G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

E7

II

F♯m7

III

G♯m7♭5

IV

Amaj7

V

Bm7

VI

C♯m7

VII

Dmaj7

▸ Play E Mixolydian over E7 and E7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

E Mixolydian is a major mode with a bluesy, dominant, rock character. It is the V mode of A major — it uses the same 7 notes as A Ionian but is rooted on E, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is E7.

Where to use E 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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