Music Theory Series: Mixolydian Mode

Today we know G Mixolydian Mode as closely resembling the G Major Scale.

The main difference between G Major and G Mixolydian is that one has an F sharp and the other doesn’t.

Let’s take a look at the similarities and the differences on the treble staff below…

G Major

G Mixolydian

As you can see they both start on G and end on G.

However G Major has an F sharp and G Mixolydian has a G natural.

Now let’s compare them on the piano keyboard…

G Major

G Mixolydian highlighted in blue

You’ll notice G Mixolydian is all the white keys from G to G.

The steps that make up G Mixolydian Mode are as follows…

Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole.

You can transpose or start the root or tonic note of the G Mixolydian Mode on any note and apply the same steps.

For example C Mixolydian would look like this on the treble staff…

C Mixolydian on the piano keyboard…

Notice that C Mixolydian looks very similar to the C Major scale.

See the main difference? You guessed it, one has a B flat while the other has a B natural.

Until next time practice building and playing your Mixolydian Modes!

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