B Mixolydian
- Notes
- B C# D# E F# G# A
- Degrees
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
Character
A major scale whose 7th is a half step lower. It differs from major by one note.
That note turns the I chord into a dominant seventh. Bright like major, yet never resolving — hanging in place — comes from there.
It is the basis of blues, rock and funk. Music that sits for a long time on one chord like E7 or A7 is usually built on this scale.
Scales with the same notes
This scale starts on note 5 of the E Major Scale scale and contains exactly the same notes. The fretboard positions are identical, so a shape you already know carries over.
Diatonic chords in this key
Seventh chords built on each scale note, using only notes from the scale. These do not clash with one another, so they are the reference set when you build a progression.
| Degree | Position | Chord |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I7 | B7 |
| 2 | ii7 | C#m7 |
| 3 | iii°7 | D#m7♭5 |
| 4 | IVmaj7 | Emaj7 |
| 5 | v7 | F#m7 |
| 6 | vi7 | G#m7 |
| b7 | VIImaj7 | Amaj7 |
Practice
It starts on the fifth note of its parent major scale. Shift the major shape you already know.
Play it against the major scale to check the 7th. A single half step changes the character completely.