D♯ Mixolydian at a glance
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character. Built on the root D♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where D♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W H W W H W |
| Chords in the key | D♯E♯mF𝄪°G♯A♯mB♯mC♯ |
Chords in the D♯ Mixolydian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
D♯ Mixolydian on the piano
Improvisation drone · D♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano D♯ Mixolydian uses four black keys (D♯, G♯, A♯ and C♯) and three white. E♯, F𝄪 and B♯ are the white keys you'd normally call F, G and C.
D♯ · E♯ · F𝄪 · G♯ · A♯ · B♯ · C♯
Play D♯ Mixolydian on the online piano
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D♯ Mixolydian on the guitar
D♯ Mixolydian - fr 0–12
D♯ Mixolydian on the staff
Notes of the D♯ Mixolydian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | E♯ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | F𝄪 | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | G♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | A♯ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | B♯ | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | C♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes D♯ Mixolydian different
Mixolydian is the major scale with a lowered seventh, and that ♭7 is its only difference from major. Without a leading tone the v chord turns minor and a major chord appears on ♭VII, which gives rock its I, ♭VII, IV sound. Add the ♭7 to the tonic triad and you get a dominant seventh chord, which is why Mixolydian is the scale for dominant chords and for blues-rock. It's the fifth mode of the major scale, so it shares its notes with the major scale a perfect fourth above its root. On D♯, D♯ Mixolydian has C♯ where D♯ Major has C𝄪; every other note is shared with D♯ Major (D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯ B♯ C𝄪).
Modes from D♯ Mixolydian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the D♯ Mixolydian scale
The diatonic chords of D♯ Mixolydian are: I = D♯, ii = E♯m, iii° = F𝄪°, IV = G♯, v = A♯m, vi = B♯m, VII = C♯. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in D♯ Mixolydian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character.
Practice tips
Improvise over a major chord using the flat seventh - instantly sounds bluesy or country-flavoured.
Formula & step pattern
The D♯ Mixolydian scale follows a major scale with a flat seventh degree (W-W-H-W-W-H-W). Step pattern: W - W - H - W - W - H - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear D♯ Mixolydian
Start with the music described above: listen for D♯ Mixolydian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the D♯ Mixolydian scale?
The D♯ Mixolydian scale contains D♯, E♯, F𝄪, G♯, A♯, B♯ and C♯.
What is the formula for the D♯ Mixolydian scale?
D♯ Mixolydian follows a major scale with a flat seventh degree (W-W-H-W-W-H-W).
Is D♯ Mixolydian a major or minor scale?
D♯ Mixolydian is a mixolydian scale. Major scale with a flat seventh - the dominant sound of blues and rock.
What chords belong to the D♯ Mixolydian scale?
The diatonic chords of D♯ Mixolydian are D♯, E♯m, F𝄪°, G♯, A♯m, B♯m, C♯.
Which genres use D♯ Mixolydian?
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character.
How do you play the D♯ Mixolydian scale on the piano?
On the piano D♯ Mixolydian uses four black keys (D♯, G♯, A♯ and C♯) and three white. E♯, F𝄪 and B♯ are the white keys you'd normally call F, G and C.
What is the difference between D♯ Mixolydian and D♯ Major?
On D♯, D♯ Mixolydian has C♯ where D♯ Major has C𝄪; every other note is shared with D♯ Major (D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯ B♯ C𝄪).
How do I practise the D♯ Mixolydian scale?
Improvise over a major chord using the flat seventh - instantly sounds bluesy or country-flavoured.