Mixolydian mode chord chart
Mixolydian mode differs with one note from the major scale, something that affects the iii chord and V chord primarily in chord progressions. In addition, there are some differences on how this mode is used then creating progressions. For example, the I chord often turns into a I7 chord.
Whereas it is natural to end progressions with a stable major or minor "home chord", a dominant chord is unstable. This makes some "Mixolydian progressions" less valid and is better treated as parts of progressions. But a progression such as D - A - E is relevant in a rock context, although it also can be seen as a E major progression with a lowered sixth degree.
The first table shows the relationship of all triads in this mode. The first column shows the key note of the mode and on the same row the other chords that fit together with it.
Chords in Mixolydian modes
I | ii | iii | IV | v | vi | VII |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C# | D#m | Fdim | F# | G#m | A#m | B |
F# | G#m | A#dim | B | C#m | D#m | E |
B | C#m | D#dim | E | F#m | G#m | A |
E | F#m | G#dim | A | Bm | C#m | D |
A | Bm | C#dim | D | Em | F#m | G |
D | Em | F#dim | G | Am | Bm | C |
G | Am | Bdim | C | Dm | Em | F |
C | Dm | Edim | F | Gm | Am | Bb |
F | Gm | Adim | Bb | Cm | Dm | Eb |
Bb | Cm | Ddim | Eb | Fm | Gm | Ab |
Eb | Fm | Gdim | Ab | Bbm | Cm | Db |
Ab | Bbm | Cdim | Db | Ebm | Fm | Gb |
Db | Ebm | Fdim | Gb | Abm | Bbm | B |
Gb | Abm | Bbdim | B | Dbm | Ebm | E |
Cb | Dbm | Ebdim | E | Gbm | Abm | A |
Mixolydian chord progressions
Here are chord progressions based on the Mixolydian mode:
Dm - Gm - C (C Mixolydian)
Fm - C - G (G Mixolydian)
D - A - E (E Mixolydian)
A - D - E - A - G - D (A Mixolydian)
Mixolydian is closely related to Major and Minor keys and the progressions are not often "Mixodydian-specific" so to say.
Four-note chords in Mixolydian modes
I | ii | iii | IV | v | vi | VII |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C#7 | D#m7 | Fm7b5 | F#maj7 | G#m7 | A#m7 | Bmaj7 |
F#7 | G#m7 | A#m7b5 | Bmaj7 | C#m7 | D#m7 | Emaj7 |
B7 | C#m7 | D#m7b5 | Emaj7 | F#m7 | G#m7 | Amaj7 |
E7 | F#m7 | G#m7b5 | Amaj7 | Bm7 | C#m7 | Dmaj7 |
A7 | Bm7 | C#m7b5 | Dmaj7 | Em7 | F#m7 | Gmaj7 |
D7 | Em7 | F#m7b5 | Gmaj7 | Am7 | Bm7 | Cmaj7 |
G7 | Am7 | Bm7b5 | Cmaj7 | Dm7 | Em7 | Fmaj7 |
C7 | Dm7 | Em7b5 | Fmaj7 | Gm7 | Am7 | Bbmaj7 |
F7 | Gm7 | Am7b5 | Bbmaj7 | Cm7 | Dm7 | Ebmaj7 |
Bb7 | Cm7 | Dm7b5 | Ebmaj7 | Fm7 | Gm7 | Abmaj7 |
Eb7 | Fm7 | Gm7b5 | Abmaj7 | Bbm7 | Cm7 | Dbmaj7 |
Ab7 | Bbm7 | Cm7b5 | Dbmaj7 | Ebm7 | Fm7 | Gbmaj7 |
Db7 | Ebm7 | Fm7b5 | Gbmaj7 | Abm7 | Bbm7 | Bmaj7 |
Gb7 | Abm7 | Bm7b5 | Bmaj7 | Dbm7 | Ebm7 | Emaj7 |
Cb7 | Dbm7 | Ebm7b5 | Emaj7 | Gbm7 | Abm7 | Amaj7 |
Comments
The four-note chords in the second table are not the only possible four-note chords based on the Mixolydian, and can of course be extended to five-note chords as well. The I chord, for example can also be 9th or 11th; the ii chord can also be m9 and m11; the IV chord can also be maj9 and maj13; the v chord can also be m9 and m11; the VII chord can also be 6/9 and maj9.
Some chord progressions including extended Mixolydian based chords:
C7 - Dm9 - Bmaj7 - Fmaj7 (C Mixolydian)
Am7 - Cmaj7 - D7 (D Mixolydian)
E7 - Amaj7 - D6 (E Mixolydian)
Dm7 - Em7 - G7 (G Mixolydian)
Dmaj7 - F#m7 - A7 (A Mixolydian)
As touched upon earlier, "Mixolydian progressions" can often be seen as variants of progressions in major keys. For example, Dm7 - Em7 - G7 can also be treated as a part of a progression in C major with G7 function as the V7 chord.
The diminished iii degree is not used often in Mixolydian progressions because it can fool the ear to hear the IV degree as the tonal center. One option is to alter it with III7:
C - E7 - Am - F (C Mixolydian)
Another possible alteration is to change the v degree to a V7 (once again for increase the feeling of the tonal center, the I chord that is):
C - C7 - Dm - G7 - C (C Mixolydian)
Ebook
The Illustrated Chord progression ebook includes around 200 progressions – all chords illustrated with diagrams. Together with audio examples.
See also:
Dorian mode chord chartLydian mode chord chart
Phrygian mode chord chart
Pentatonic scales chord chart