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Scale · 7 notes

E Mixolydian Scale

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

DEABC♯F♯G♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABDEF♯G♯ABC♯DEG♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯

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

Notes in the E Mixolydian scale

DegreeNoteName
1ETonic
2F♯Supertonic
3G♯Mediant
4ASubdominant
5BDominant
6C♯Submediant
♭7DSubtonic

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

E 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 E Mixolydian scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IEE7
iiF♯mF♯m7
iii°G♯°G♯ø7
IVAAmaj7
vBmBm7
viC♯mC♯m7
VIIDDmaj7

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

Related scales

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

How to practise the E 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 E Mixolydian scale?

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

What is the formula for the E 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 E Mixolydian scale?

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

More E scales

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