E Mixolydian mode on piano

The Mixolydian mode is a major scale with a minor seventh. It is the scale of the dominant seventh chord: you hear it everywhere in blues, rock and funk.

On the keyboard

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Numbers above the keys are the scale degrees; the root is filled.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Eroot
2F♯ (F sharp)major second
3G♯ (G sharp)major third
4Aperfect fourth
5Bperfect fifth
6C♯ (C sharp)major sixth
7Dminor seventh

Steps between notes: W – W – H – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

This mode uses the same notes as the A major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. EI
  2. F♯mii
  3. G♯dimiii°
  4. AIV
  5. Bmv
  6. C♯mvi
  7. DVII

Other E scales

The same scale in other keys