Db 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
- Db Mixolydian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Notes & degrees
1Dbroot
2Ebmajor 2nd
3Fmajor 3rd
4Gbperfect 4th
5Abperfect 5th
6Bbmajor 6th
b7Cbminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
VIICblowered 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
- DbWEbWFHGbWAbWBbHCb
- Reference mode
- Db Ionian
Db Ionian
IDb
IIEb
IIIF
IVGb
VAb
VIBb
VIIC
Db Mixolydian
IDb
IIEb
IIIF
IVGb
VAb
VIBb
VIICb
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 5 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- F# majorMixolydian mode — degree 5 of the scale
- Parallel major
- Db majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IDbpoint of resttonic
IIIFdefines modal qualitythird
VAbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIFF
IVGbGb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IDbDb
IIEbEb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how Db 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.