stringery

E mixolydian

Major with a flat 7th: rock, blues and folk. Dominant family

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position1 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 7th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. ERW
  2. F♯2W
  3. G♯3H
  4. A4W
  5. B5W
  6. C♯6H
  7. D♭7W

Lowering the 7th of the major scale by one fret removes its pull home, so the music relaxes instead of resolving.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckE mixolydian

12345EADGBE35791215R23456♭7R2456♭7R2345♭7R23456♭7R3456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R2
12345EADGBE35791215R23456♭7R2456♭7R2345♭7R23456♭7R3456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R2

Position 1 is outlined, frets 0 to 3. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The E mixolydian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. EI
  2. F♯mii
  3. G♯dimiii°
  4. AIV
  5. Bmv
  6. C♯mvi
  7. DVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • A major

    Same notes, but home is A: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • F♯ minor

    Same notes, but home is F♯: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • B dorian

    Same notes, but home is B: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • D lydian

    Same notes, but home is D: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • C♯ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is C♯: dark, spanish, menacing.