E Mixolydian Scale on Piano

The E Mixolydian scale sounds bright but unresolved. It runs E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D and is written with three sharps.

It shares its key signature with C# minor, its relative minor.

Interval Circle

WWHWWHWCC#6Db7D#E1FF#2GG#3A4A#B5

All twelve semitones, root at the top. Filled dots are the notes of the scale, the outer numbers are their degrees, and W / H mark the whole and half steps between them.

About This Scale

A major scale with a flattened 7th. Losing the leading tone removes the pull back to the tonic, so the scale can sit on a dominant chord indefinitely — the sound of blues-rock riffs and Celtic tunes.

Fingering

Right Hand (ascending)

1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5

Left Hand (ascending)

5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1

Why this fingering

3 black keys (F#, G#, C#) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto A; let the elbow drift slightly outward as it passes rather than twisting the wrist.

The blue dots on the piano below show which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Notes in E Mixolydian

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
EE4Root (1)15
F#F#4Major 2nd (2)24
G#G#4Major 3rd (3)33
AA4Perfect 4th (4)12
BB4Perfect 5th (5)21
C#C#5Major 6th (6)33
DD5Minor 7th (b7)42
EE5Octave (8)51

Other Mixolydian Scales

C Mixolydian
C – D – E – F – G – A – Bb
Db Mixolydian
Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb
D Mixolydian
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C
Eb Mixolydian
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db
F Mixolydian
F – G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb
F# Mixolydian
F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E
G Mixolydian
G – A – B – C – D – E – F
Ab Mixolydian
Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb
A Mixolydian
A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G
Bb Mixolydian
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab
B Mixolydian
B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A

Other E Scales

E Major
E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D#
E Natural Minor
E – F# – G – A – B – C – D
E Harmonic Minor
E – F# – G – A – B – C – D#
E Melodic Minor
E – F# – G – A – B – C# – D#
E Major Pentatonic
E – F# – G# – B – C#
E Minor Pentatonic
E – G – A – B – D
E Blues
E – G – A – Bb – B – D
E Dorian
E – F# – G – A – B – C# – D
E Chromatic
E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D#