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Scale · 7 notes

A Mixolydian Scale

A Mixolydian is a 7-note scale with the notes A B C♯ D E F♯ G. It sounds major with a flattened 7th, bluesy and relaxed, the sound of rock and dominant chords.

DEGABC♯F♯

Purple = A (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every A mixolydian note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯GABC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯GABDEF♯GABC♯DEGABC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯G

Blue = A (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the A Mixolydian scale

DegreeNoteName
1ATonic
2BSupertonic
3C♯Mediant
4DSubdominant
5EDominant
6F♯Submediant
♭7GSubtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B C♯ D E F♯ G.

A Mixolydian scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – H – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.

Chords in the A Mixolydian scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
IAA7
iiBmBm7
iii°C♯°C♯ø7
IVDDmaj7
vEmEm7
viF♯mF♯m7
VIIGGmaj7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

Related scales

  • Parent major scale: D Major, which has exactly the same notes as A Mixolydian.

How to practise the A Mixolydian scale

Learn each mode by its characteristic note: the one that makes it different from the major or minor scale it most resembles. Play a drone on the tonic while you play the scale to hear its colour.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the A Mixolydian scale?

The notes of the A Mixolydian scale are A B C♯ D E F♯ G.

What is the formula for the A Mixolydian scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – H – W – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.

What chords are in the A Mixolydian scale?

Built from the scale in triads: A, Bm, C♯°, D, Em, F♯m, G.

More A scales

A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.