The Mixolydian Scale is widely used in folk, pop, rock, bluegrass, country, and modal jazz…
C Mixolydian Scale Theory…
- The scale structure of the Mixolydian Scale is always 1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-1, no matter what key you are in.
- The Solfege syllables of the Mixolydian Scale are always Do-Re-Me-Fa-So-La-Te-Do, no matter what key you are in.
- The only thing that changes when you change keys are the letter names.
Comparative Scale Study
Notice that the Mixolydian Scale shares the same notes as the Major Scale with one exception: Te instead of Ti.
Play and sing the Mixolydian Scale and Major Scale side-by-side, slowly enough to hear the difference between Ti and Te, paying special attention to the unique melodic-harmonic tension that each note has with respect to Do.
Changing a single note allows you to create a whole new kind of music!
Solfege Ear Training
Reading, playing, and singing the Solfege Syllables out loud is an extremely effective way to tune up your ears and to internalize the unique sound-feeling of each note in the scale with respect to the key center Do. Make sure to do this slowly enough for the unique sound-feeling of each Solfege Syllable to make a meaningful impression on your mind’s ear.
C Mixolydian Scale: Linear, Ascending…
C Mixolydian Scale: Linear, Descending…
C Mixolydian Scale: Do-X-Do, Ascending…
C Mixolydian Scale: Do-X-Do, Descending…
Note: While it’s possible to continue by singing a bunch of other musical patterns, the 80-20 Principle teaches us that a more efficient approach is to get your ear training material directly from the music that YOU want to play!