The E Mixolydian is the 5th mode of the E 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 E.
Notes in the E Mixolydian
E
F#
G#
A
B
C#
D
E · F# · G# · A · B · C# · D
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 ScaleE Major — E Mixolydian shares the same notes as E Major but starts on E
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 E Mixolydian
The E 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 E.
Same Mode, Every Key
The Mixolydian pattern is identical in every key — the formula never changes. Explore the same mode in other keys:
Home: E Mixolydian is major territory — Ionian with a ♭7. Start here. Address: 5th mode of A Ionian — the 5 Missing Notes are read from A, not E. Home vs Address →