B Mixolydian
A major diatonic mode with a minor 7th; an open sound without a leading tone.
Octaves
Musical context
How the mode relates to the scale, chord, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- B Mixolydian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Notes & degrees
1Broot
2C#major 2nd
3D#major 3rd
4Eperfect 4th
5F#perfect 5th
6G#major 6th
b7Aminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
VIIAlowered 7th degree
Construction
- Overview
- A major diatonic mode with a minor 7th; an open sound without a leading tone.
- Application in music
- Pairs with dominant 7th chords; its lowered 7th is characteristic of blues and rock harmony.
- Interval formula
- BWC#WD#HEWF#WG#HA
- Reference mode
- B Ionian
B Ionian
IB
IIC#
IIID#
IVE
VF#
VIG#
VIIA#
B Mixolydian
IB
IIC#
IIID#
IVE
VF#
VIG#
VIIA
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 5 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- E majorMixolydian mode — degree 5 of the scale
- Parallel major
- B majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBpoint of resttonic
IIID#defines modal qualitythird
VF#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIID#D#
IVEE
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IBB
IIC#C#
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how B Mixolydian looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.