E Mixolydian Mode

The E Mixolydian scale contains seven notes: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, and D. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-W-H-W-W-H-W.

The E Mixolydian mode is the fifth mode of the A Major scale. It has a major sound with a flatted seventh degree, widely used in rock, blues, and folk.

E Mixolydian Mode Notes

Degree	Name	Note	Interval
1	Tonic	E	P1
2	Supertonic	F♯	M2
3	Mediant	G♯	M3
4	Subdominant	A	P4
5	Dominant	B	P5
6	Submediant	C♯	M6
♭7	Leading Tone	D	m7

Key Signature

The E Mixolydian Mode draws its notes from A Major, so it is written with that key signature: 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯).

F♯C♯G♯

Order of sharps

Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.

F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Diatonic Chords in the E Mixolydian Mode

These are the triads built on each degree of the E Mixolydian Mode:

I — E Major (major)

Degree	Numeral	Chord	Quality
1	I	E Major	Major
2	ii	F♯ Minor	Minor
3	iii°	G♯ Diminished	Diminished
4	IV	A Major	Major
5	v	B Minor	Minor
6	vi	C♯ Minor	Minor
7	VII	D Major	Major

How Mixolydian Relates to the Major Scale

Mode

Key

E Mixolydian uses the same notes as A Major

Relative modes — all share the same notes

A Ionian=B Dorian=C♯ Phrygian=D Lydian=E Mixolydian=F♯ Aeolian=A♭ Locrian

Common Tones

Common tones are the notes that two scales or modes share. Knowing which notes the E mode shares with its parallel modes (same root, different scale) helps with improvisation, modal interchange, and smooth voice leading. The more notes two modes share, the more closely related they sound — and the easier it is to slide between them in a solo or progression.

Parallel Mode	Common Notes	Shared / 7
E Dorian	E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E	8 / 7
E Phrygian	E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E	8 / 7
E Lydian	E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E	8 / 7
E Locrian	E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E	8 / 7
E Ionian	E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B	5 / 7
E Aeolian	E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B	5 / 7