Modes


The Mixolydian Mode originally ascended from G to G'. This is a common mode for traditional music.

Scales in Score and Tab for common Mixolydian Modes as gifs or pdf


Reference Scale:

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1'

Note

C

C#

D

D#

E

F

F#

G

G#

A

A#

B

C

Note

C

Db

D

Eb

E

F

Gb

G

Ab

A

Bb

B

C


Use this table to construct the mode starting on any note, using the pattern of intervals below.


Mixolydian Mode:

 

I

 

II

 

III

 

IV

 

V

 

VI

 

VII

 

VIII

 

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Semitone

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Semitone

 

Tone

 

Note

G

 

A

 

B

 

C

 

D

 

E

 

F

 

G


This pattern of intervals: T-T-S-T-T-S-T is the characteristic of the Mixolydian mode, and is a Major mode similar to the Ionian but has a flattened 7th note.

Because the mode is characterised by its interval structure, you can start on any note and progress with the same intervals to produce a Mixolydian mode in that 'key'.


This would be 'D Mixolydian':


 

I

 

II

 

III

 

IV

 

V

 

VI

 

VII

 

VIII

 

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Semitone

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Semitone

 

Tone

 

Note

D

 

E

 

F#

 

G

 

A

 

B

 

C

 

D


If a piece of music seems to be in the key of D, but all C#s are played as C naturals, it's probably 'D modal' or D Mixolydian.

Examples of tunes in Mixolydian Mode are Old Joe Clarke, The High Reel, Red Haired Boy and Banish Misfortune.