Music Theory Monday | 11: Mixolydian Mode
Added 2020-08-31 21:40:36 +0000 UTCWhere to Start • Lesson Archive • Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private Lesson
Hi Everyone!
In this lesson, I discuss the two ways to think about modes - specifically Mixolydian mode. One way to think of it is as a Major Scale with a flat 7, and another way to think of it is if we create a new scale starting on the 5th note of a major scale. There are some fun chord progressions to be made in mixolydian mode, but we can also borrow mixolydian progressions for our major key progressions. I demonstrate what mixolydian sounds like and show examples of a few popular songs that use mixolydian mode. This is also related to the blues in some sense, while also distinctly being its own thing.
If you’re experimenting with Mixolydian chord progressions or have questions, use the community forum post.
More from this series:
Other helpful links:
Scott's Recommended Lesson Plan
Searchable Lesson Archive
How to Join the Community Forum
Scott's Jam Tracks
SPJ Live YouTube Channel
Scott's Main YouTube Channel
Comments
Hi Scott, I just joined patron recently. Hope you would see this comment. I am still a little confused about how to know whether D major (I chord) is felt as home. You said that we could play the IV and V of the scale to make the I chord feel as home. May I know if it applies to all modes or only to Mixolydian? And also why will IV and V chords make the I chord as home? Thank you :)
XX
2022-08-21 12:24:31 +0000 UTCYou are such an awesome professor... i have to say that it's so amazing how you teach with such clarity and humor, it's not easy to do this online and I have to say that I never leave a video feeling like there is something I'm missing, other than to get live feedback :)
Magela Crosignani
2021-10-26 12:02:23 +0000 UTCHi Daryl. First off, welcome to the club! With live YouTube sessions, you'll have to be logged in with a gmail account to be able to comment in the live chat, but you can still watch without it! My Office Hours live stream is more of a Q&A (that will be happening later this week) and you can leave comments for that on Patreon. Funny enough, this "community challenge" post is the only one without the script at the top of the description that says" are you new here? Wondering where you start? Click here." That link will take you to a page that explains where to start and how to navigate content. Use whatever music creation software is comfortable for you and don't upgrade until you feel like you need certain features and functions you're not getting from your current software.
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-06-30 15:52:22 +0000 UTCScott, I joined your session today at 12:30 PM (PDT) and watched most of the activity. I plan to go back and watch again when I'm not bouncing back and forth with other tasks. However, I have not figured out if 1.) You know that I am on-line when I join your session; 2.) Haven't figured out how to ask a question or answer one of your rhetorical ones; 3.) Just joined PATREON as a SPJ "Patron" and love your way of explaining things, but I keep bouncing between concepts and "levels" ledge. Sometimes I'm looking at a video you put on YouTube; sometimes I've entered "somewhere" from a Patreon (Sponsor) email you sent; and sometimes I don't know how to find what I want and when I do how to find my way back. Can you maybe put out a ".pdf" roadmap or graphic for us less web-proficient folks to lean on when we get lost? I am primarily interested in trying to really understand CAGED and that is what drew me to you in the first place. Then how to integrate Pentatonic logic into CAGED (and vice-versa) and then, once-and-for-all (!) understand how to make use of the concept of MODES. I'm already way ahead of where I was since discovering you, but have far to go and need some friendly pointers. One more thing: I have lots of "older" music creation computer programs, but have not gotten "Logic Pro". Should I consider buying that as the centerpiece of my computer music creation "network"?
Daryl J. Joseph
2021-06-30 03:41:01 +0000 UTCSorry to hear that. Sounds like a great guy
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-04-12 02:14:41 +0000 UTCI think you and him would have a decent discussion. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. He had Zakk Wylde’s ‘Farewell to Ballad’ as is ‘final song’ 😞
Daryl Parker
2021-04-10 12:22:47 +0000 UTCIn a way. If you flat the 3rd note of a mixolydian scale, it becomes a dorian scale. They are very similar in that way
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-04-10 12:08:24 +0000 UTCSo my old music teacher once said ‘any minor mixolydian mode is dorian mode’ is this true or false Scott?
Daryl Parker
2021-04-09 21:47:36 +0000 UTCHell yeah!!!!!!
Scott Paul Johnson
2020-09-24 14:13:33 +0000 UTCWell, in my attempt to improve my (sad) solo skills and after watching a few of your amazing videos... I decided to pick a song I really like and see if I could figure it out for the purpose of identifying what chord tones to focus on. There's a song from "Stick Figure" called "Heartland" that is just amazing. So I figured out the chords... and then from there figured out the key. It's "home" is the key of F, and it sounds happy vs sad. But the chord notes doesn't fit either F major (or minor).. but... it fits perfectly with F mixolydian! F-Cm-Eb-Bb are the repeating chords, and I was able to map out the associated notes of each chord along with the scale notes/chords. Yes, I put it in a spreadsheet... super nerd. Anyways I thought I'd share my learning experience here, thank you again for your brilliant teaching style!
George Brotherston
2020-09-24 10:10:09 +0000 UTC
