A Mixolydian mode
A Mixolydian mode is A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G, with C♯ and F♯. Formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. Press play and follow the keys.
A Mixolydian mode, note by note
The step pattern is W W H W W H W (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between C♯–D and F♯–G.
| Degree | Note | Interval from A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root | |
| 2 | B | major second | |
| 3 | C♯ | major third | |
| 4 | D | perfect fourth | |
| 5 | E | perfect fifth | |
| 6 | F♯ | major sixth | |
| ♭7 | G | minor seventh |
What A Mixolydian sounds like
Take A major and flatten the 7th to G: that's A Mixolydian. Lots of classic rock riffs and Celtic tunes live here.
The Mixolydian move is G to A, the major chord a whole step below home, the ♭VII that rock uses constantly.
Compared with A major scale, A Mixolydian mode has G where the other has G♯; the other six notes are shared. Hear A major scale and compare.
A Mixolydian mode uses the same seven notes as D major, starting from A instead of D. Same notes, different home note: what makes it Mixolydian is playing it over a A bass or chord.
Where your hands go
Keyboard players: two black (C♯ and F♯), five white.
The guitar box starts with the root at the 5th fret of the low E string and spans frets 3–9: 16 notes, low string to high.
Chords built on each note
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get 7 chords. These are the chords that fit A Mixolydian mode; the ones that differ from the D major set are what give the mode its color. Tap to hear each one.
If you know A Mixolydian mode, you already know the notes of C♯ Locrian (starting on the 3rd note, C♯), D major (starting on the 4th note, D), E Dorian (starting on the 5th note, E), F♯ Phrygian (starting on the 6th note, F♯), G Lydian (starting on the 7th note, G) and B natural minor (starting on the 2nd note, B).
Moving it around the guitar
Anchor points for A: low E string fret 5, A string fret 0 and 12 (0 = open string). Most guitarists learn it in five overlapping positions; on the low E string they begin around frets 2, 5, 7, 10 and 12. Play a major scale, then drop the 7th a half step; that is Mixolydian, the sound of a dominant chord.
On the piano, A Mixolydian mode uses 2 black keys (C♯ and F♯) and 5 white.
Try it in thirds to stop it sounding like an exercise: A–C♯, B–D, C♯–E, D–F♯, E–G, F♯–A, G–B, then back down.
Three ways to practise A Mixolydian
Running a scale straight up and down only teaches the order. These patterns use the same 7 notes and train your ear and fingers to jump around inside A Mixolydian mode.
- Groups of three: A B C♯ · B C♯ D · C♯ D E · D E F♯ · E F♯ G · F♯ G A.
- Lean on G: A G A G A: the ♭7 takes the pull out of major and makes it bluesy.
Try next, from A
Mixolydian mode in every key
A Mixolydian mode: questions
What are the notes of the A Mixolydian mode?
7 notes: A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G.
How many sharps or flats are in the A Mixolydian mode?
Two: C♯ and F♯.
What chords are in the A Mixolydian mode?
Stacking thirds on each note gives A (I), Bm (ii), C♯dim (iii°), D (IV), Em (v), F♯m (vi) and G (VII).
What's the difference between A Mixolydian mode and A major scale?
G in A Mixolydian; G♯ in the other. Everything else is the same.
Which major scale has the same notes as A Mixolydian mode?
D major. A Mixolydian is D major played from its 5th note, A.
Every note on this page is computed from 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 and tested. Updated September 2026.