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Scale · 7 notes

D Mixolydian Scale

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

CDEGABF♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯GABCDEF♯GABCDEF♯GABCDEF♯GABCDEGABCDEF♯GABCDEF♯GABCDEF♯GABCDEF♯G

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

Notes in the D Mixolydian scale

DegreeNoteName
1DTonic
2ESupertonic
3F♯Mediant
4GSubdominant
5ADominant
6BSubmediant
♭7CSubtonic

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

D 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 D Mixolydian scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IDD7
iiEmEm7
iii°F♯°F♯ø7
IVGGmaj7
vAmAm7
viBmBm7
VIICCmaj7

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

Related scales

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

How to practise the D 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 D Mixolydian scale?

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

What is the formula for the D 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 D Mixolydian scale?

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

More D scales

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