Bb 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
- Bb Mixolydian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Notes & degrees
1Bbroot
2Cmajor 2nd
3Dmajor 3rd
4Ebperfect 4th
5Fperfect 5th
6Gmajor 6th
b7Abminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
VIIAblowered 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
- BbWCWDHEbWFWGHAb
- Reference mode
- Bb Ionian
Bb Ionian
IBb
IIC
IIID
IVEb
VF
VIG
VIIA
Bb Mixolydian
IBb
IIC
IIID
IVEb
VF
VIG
VIIAb
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 5 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- Eb majorMixolydian mode — degree 5 of the scale
- Parallel major
- Bb majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBbpoint of resttonic
IIIDdefines modal qualitythird
VFsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIDD
IVEbEb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IBbBb
IICC
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how Bb 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.