The A Mixolydian is the 5th mode of the A Major scale. It has a bluesy, rock, funky, dominant, unresolved energy character. On guitar it appears at Position 5 in the fretboard pattern — root note A.
Notes in the A Mixolydian
A
B
C#
D
E
F#
G
A · B · C# · D · E · F# · G
Step Formula
W = Whole step (2 frets) · H = Half step (1 fret)
W W H W W H W
Intervals
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Sound CharacterBluesy, rock, funky, dominant, unresolved energy
Parent Major ScaleA Major — A Mixolydian shares the same notes as A Major but starts on A
Best Used InBlues, Rock, Funk, Country, Folk
Famous ExamplesSweet Home Alabama, Norwegian Wood, Hey Joe (Hendrix)
Key insight: Mixolydian is major with a ♭7. That flattened note is the entire sound of blues-rock guitar.
The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond A Mixolydian
The A Mixolydian is one of 7 diatonic modes in the Dead Sea Scales system. Using the 5 Missing Notes™ framework, each mode generates 7 extended variations — giving you access to all 42 total modes in any key including A.
Same Mode, Every Key
The Mixolydian pattern is identical in every key — the formula never changes. Explore the same mode in other keys:
Home: A Mixolydian is major territory — Ionian with a ♭7. Start here. Address: 5th mode of D Ionian — the 5 Missing Notes are read from D, not A. Home vs Address →