Mixolydian Scales Explained
/If you are new to improvisation, the Mixolydian scale can seem confusing.
Let’s break it down.
There are two ways to think about the Mixolydian scale (from the major scale or by key).
1. Flat the 7th
Let’s take the C major scale.
C MAJOR SCALE
To find the C Mixolydian scale, lower the 7th degree of the major scale by a half step (flatten the 7th). The 7th degree of the major scale is B. Lower the B to a Bb.
C MIXOLYDIAN SCALE
This is the C Mixolydian scale.
That’s it! You can take any major scale and lower the 7th degree by a half step to get the notes of the Mixolydian scale.
Let’s take the G major scale.
G MAJOR SCALE
To find the G Mixolydian scale, lower the 7th degree of the G major scale by a half step. The 7th degree of the G major scale is F#. Lower the F# to an F.
G MIXOLYDIAN SCALE
2. By Key
The second method of finding the Mixolydian scale is by using key centers.
Let’s take the C major scale.
C MAJOR SCALE
Start the C major scale on the 5th note of the scale which is ‘G’.
Play the C major scale from G to G.
G MIXOLYDIAN MODE
This is considered the G Mixolydian scale (5th mode of C major).
The 2nd method for finding the Mixolydian scale is to start any major scale from the 5th note and ascend all the way up the octave to the 5th note of the scale.
IMPROVISATION
The mixolydian scale is used to improvise over dominant 7th chords.
If there is a G7 (G dominant 7th) chord you could use the notes from the G Mixolydian scale to improvise with.
Another example would be the C7 (C dominant 7th) chord. You could use the notes from the C Mixolydian scale to improvise over a C7 chord.
CONCLUSION
There are two ways of finding the Mixolydian scale (by the scale or by the mode).
If you are starting out with improvisation, it is easier to learn your Mixolydian scales from method 1 (as a scale). Lower the 7th degree of any major scale by a half step and that’s Mixolydian.
The 2nd method (from the modes) requires a little more thinking to figure out and makes applying the scale to improvisation harder.
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