B Mixolydian scale

The B Mixolydian scale has the notes B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7. It is mode 5 of the E major scale: the same notes, starting on B. Key signature: 4 sharps (C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯).

It can also be written as C♭; we use the spelling with fewer accidentals.

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Scale notes

Degree	Formula	Note
I	1	B tonic
II	2	C♯
III	3	D♯
IV	4	E
V	5	F♯
VI	6	G♯
VII	b7	A

Chords of the scale

Symbol	Chord	Notes	Chord-scale	Tensions	Avoid
I7 modal center	B7	B D♯ F♯ A	Mixolydian B	9 (C♯), 13 (G♯)	11 (E)
IIm7	C♯m7	C♯ E G♯ B	Aeolian C♯	9 (D♯), 11 (F♯)	b13 (A)
IIIø	D♯ø	D♯ F♯ A C♯	Locrian D♯	11 (G♯), b13 (B)	b9 (E)
IVMaj7	EMaj7	E G♯ B D♯	Ionian E	9 (F♯), 13 (C♯)	11 (A)
Vm7	F♯m7	F♯ A C♯ E	Dorian F♯	9 (G♯), 11 (B)	13 (D♯)
VIm7	G♯m7	G♯ B D♯ F♯	Phrygian G♯	11 (C♯)	b9 (A), b13 (E)
bVIIMaj7 characteristic	AMaj7	A C♯ E G♯	Lydian A	9 (B), #11 (D♯), 13 (F♯)	–

Character and characteristic note

The Mixolydian mode is the fifth mode of the major scale. It is a major scale with a flat seventh (b7); its tonic chord is a dominant seventh, hence its solid, robust sound.

Effect: solid, robust.
Characteristic note: b7.
Characteristic chords: bVIIMaj7 (AMaj7).

How to use it

Center I7 (or I7sus4), the only dominant allowed in modal music. Characteristic chord bVIIMaj7 (it contains the b7). The melody keeps coming back to 1 or 5, contrasted with the b7. No dominant resolution.

Watch out for

IVMaj7 tonicizes the Ionian of IV; patterns such as II-7 I7sus4 IVMaj7 relocate the center.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B Mixolydian scale?

B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A. 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7.

What chords can you build on the B Mixolydian scale?

The seventh chords on each degree are I7 = B7, IIm7 = C♯m7, IIIø = D♯ø, IVMaj7 = EMaj7, Vm7 = F♯m7, VIm7 = G♯m7, bVIIMaj7 = AMaj7.