B Mixolydian mode
B Mixolydian mode is B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A, with C♯, D♯, F♯ and G♯. Formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. Play it, then slow the tempo until every note is clear.
The notes, one step at a time
The step pattern is W W H W W H W (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between D♯–E and G♯–A.
| Degree | Note | Interval from B | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | root | |
| 2 | C♯ | major second | |
| 3 | D♯ | major third | |
| 4 | E | perfect fourth | |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect fifth | |
| 6 | G♯ | major sixth | |
| ♭7 | A | minor seventh |
What B Mixolydian sounds like
Mixolydian is a major mode with a lowered 7th. It's the sound of a dominant 7th chord stretched into a scale: bluesy, a bit rock-and-roll, used over B7.
B7 is the Mixolydian chord: the A that makes it a dominant seventh is the same note that makes the scale Mixolydian.
Compared with B major scale, B Mixolydian mode has A where the other has A♯; the other six notes are shared. Hear B major scale and compare.
B Mixolydian mode uses the same seven notes as E major, starting from B instead of E. Same notes, different home note: what makes it Mixolydian is playing it over a B bass or chord.
Playing B Mixolydian
On the piano it uses four black keys (C♯, D♯, F♯ and G♯) and three white.
16 notes fit in the box between frets 5 and 11, with B at the 7th fret of the low E string.
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 B Mixolydian mode; the ones that differ from the E major set are what give the mode its color. Tap to hear each one.
If you know B Mixolydian mode, you already know the notes of C♯ natural minor (starting on the 2nd note, C♯), D♯ Locrian (starting on the 3rd note, D♯), E major (starting on the 4th note, E), F♯ Dorian (starting on the 5th note, F♯), G♯ Phrygian (starting on the 6th note, G♯) and A Lydian (starting on the 7th note, A).
B Mixolydian mode across the fretboard
Anchor points for B: low E string fret 7, A string fret 2 and 14. Five overlapping fingerings cover the neck, starting near frets 2, 4, 7, 9 and 12 on the low E string. Play a major scale, then drop the 7th a half step; that is Mixolydian, the sound of a dominant chord.
On the piano, B Mixolydian mode uses 4 black keys (C♯, D♯, F♯ and G♯) and 3 white.
Try it in thirds to stop it sounding like an exercise: B–D♯, C♯–E, D♯–F♯, E–G♯, F♯–A, G♯–B, A–C♯, then back down.
Three ways to practise B Mixolydian
Try these after the plain scale. Tap to hear each pattern at a steady speed, then play along.
- Three-note runs: B C♯ D♯ · C♯ D♯ E · D♯ E F♯ · E F♯ G♯ · F♯ G♯ A · G♯ A B.
- Lean on A: B A B A B: the ♭7 takes the pull out of major and makes it bluesy.
Close relatives of B Mixolydian mode
Mixolydian mode in every key
B Mixolydian mode: questions
What are the notes of the B Mixolydian mode?
B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B. As degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.
How many sharps or flats are in the B Mixolydian mode?
Four: C♯, D♯, F♯ and G♯.
What chords are in the B Mixolydian mode?
Stacking thirds on each note gives B (I), C♯m (ii), D♯dim (iii°), E (IV), F♯m (v), G♯m (vi) and A (VII).
What's the difference between B Mixolydian mode and B major scale?
A in B Mixolydian; A♯ in the other. Everything else is the same.
Which major scale has the same notes as B Mixolydian mode?
E major. B Mixolydian is E major played from its 5th note, B.
Notes and fingering generated from the scale formula and checked automatically against the step pattern. Updated September 2026.