F♯ Mixolydian

Bluesy, dominant, rock — built from B major

PARENT FAMILY · B MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	B Ionian	Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	C♯ Dorian	C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	D♯ Phrygian	D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	E Lydian	Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	F♯ Mixolydian	F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	G♯ Aeolian	G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	A♯ Locrian	A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

F♯7

II

G♯m7

III

A♯m7♭5

IV

Bmaj7

V

C♯m7

VI

D♯m7

VII

Emaj7

▸ Play F♯ Mixolydian over F♯7 and F♯7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

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

Where to use F♯ 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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