Eb 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
- Eb Mixolydian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Notes & degrees
1Ebroot
2Fmajor 2nd
3Gmajor 3rd
4Abperfect 4th
5Bbperfect 5th
6Cmajor 6th
b7Dbminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
VIIDblowered 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
- EbWFWGHAbWBbWCHDb
- Reference mode
- Eb Ionian
Eb Ionian
IEb
IIF
IIIG
IVAb
VBb
VIC
VIID
Eb Mixolydian
IEb
IIF
IIIG
IVAb
VBb
VIC
VIIDb
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 5 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- Ab majorMixolydian mode — degree 5 of the scale
- Parallel major
- Eb majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IEbpoint of resttonic
IIIGdefines modal qualitythird
VBbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIGG
IVAbAb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IEbEb
IIFF
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how Eb 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.