stringery

D mixolydian

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

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position1 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. DRW
  2. E2W
  3. F♯3H
  4. G4W
  5. A5W
  6. B6H
  7. C♭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 neckD mixolydian

12345GCEA571012456♭7R234♭7R23456♭723456♭7R256♭7R2345
12345GCEA571012456♭7R234♭7R23456♭723456♭7R256♭7R2345

Position 1 is outlined, frets 2 to 5. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The D mixolydian key

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

  1. DI
  2. Emii
  3. F♯dimiii°
  4. GIV
  5. Amv
  6. Bmvi
  7. CVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • G major

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

  • E minor

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

  • A dorian

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

  • C lydian

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

  • B phrygian

    Same notes, but home is B: dark, spanish, menacing.