Mixolydian mode

Mixolydian modemay refer to one of three things: the name applied to one of the ancient Greekharmoniaiortonoi,based on a particularoctave speciesorscale;one of the medievalchurch modes;or a modernmusical modeordiatonic scale,related to the medieval mode. (The Hypomixolydian mode of medieval music, by contrast, has no modern counterpart.)

${ \key c \mixolydian \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \clef treble \time 7/4 c4^\markup { Modern C Mixolydian scale } d e f g a bes c2 } }$

The modern diatonic mode is the scale forming the basis of both the rising and falling forms ofHarikambhojiinCarnatic music,the classical music form of southern India, orKhamajinHindustani music,the classical music form of northern India.

Greek Mixolydian

The idea of a Mixolydian mode comes from the music theory ofancient Greece.The invention of the ancient Greek Mixolydian mode was attributed toSappho,the7th-century-B.C.poet and musician.^[1]However, what the ancient Greeks thought of as Mixolydian is very different from the modern interpretation of the mode. The prefixmixo- ( $μιξο$ -) means "mixed", referring to its resemblance to theLydian mode.

In Greek theory, the Mixolydiantonos(the term "mode" is a later Latin term) employs a scale (or "octave species") corresponding to the GreekHypolydian modeinverted. In itsdiatonic genus,this is a scale descending fromparamesetohypate hypaton:in the diatonic genus, awhole tone(paramesetomese) followed by two conjunct invertedLydian tetrachords(each being two whole tones followed by asemitonedescending). This diatonic genus of the scale is roughly the equivalent of playing all thewhite notesof a piano from B to B, which is also known as modernLocrian mode.

In thechromaticandenharmonicgenera, each tetrachord consists of aminor thirdplus two semitones, and amajor thirdplus twoquarter tones,respectively.^[2]

Medieval Mixolydian and Hypomixolydian

The termMixolydianwas originally used to designate one of the traditionalharmoniaiof Greek theory. It was appropriated later (along with six other names) by 2nd-century theoristPtolemyto designate his seventonoiortransposition keys.Four centuries later,Boethiusinterpreted Ptolemy in Latin, still with the meaning of transposition keys, not scales.

When chant theory was first being formulated in the 9th century, these seven names plus an eighth, Hypermixolydian (later changed to Hypomixolydian), were again re-appropriated in the anonymous treatiseAlia Musica.A commentary on that treatise, called theNova expositio,first gave it a new sense as one of a set of eight diatonicspecies of the octave,or scales.^[3]The nameMixolydiancame to be applied to one of the eight modes of medieval church music: the seventh mode. This mode does not run from B to B on white notes, as the Greek mode, but was defined in two ways: as the diatonic octave species from G up one octave to the G above, or as a mode whose final was G and whoseambitusruns from the F below the final to the G above, with possible extensions "by licence" up to A above and even down to E below, and in which the note D (the tenor of the corresponding seventh psalm tone) had an important melodic function.^[4]This medieval theoretical construction led to the modern use of the term for the natural scale from G to G.

The seventh mode of western church music is anauthentic modebased on and encompassing the natural scale from G to G, with theperfect fifth(the D in a G to G scale) as the dominant,reciting noteortenor.

Theplagaleighth mode was termedHypomixolydian(or "lower Mixolydian" ) and, like the Mixolydian, was defined in two ways: as the diatonic octave species from D to the D an octave higher, divided at the mode final, G (thus D–E–F–G + G–A–B–C–D); or as a mode with a final of G and an ambitus from C below the final to E above it, in which the note C (the tenor of the corresponding eighth psalm tone) had an important melodic function.^[5]

Modern Mixolydian

The modern Mixolydian scale is the fifthmodeof themajor scale(Ionian mode). That is, it can be constructed by starting on the fifth scale degree (thedominant) of the major scale. Because of this, the Mixolydian mode is sometimes called thedominant scale.^[6]

This scale has the same series oftonesandsemitonesas the major scale, but with aminor seventh.As a result, the seventh scale degree is asubtonic,rather than aleading-tone.^[7]Theflattened seventhof the scale is a tritone away from themediant(major-thirddegree) of thekey.The order of whole tones and semitones in a Mixolydian scale is

whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole

In the Mixolydian mode, thetonic,subdominant,andsubtonic triadsare allmajor,themediantisdiminished,and the remaining triads areminor.A classic Mixolydian chord progression is I-♭VII-IV-V.^[8]

The Mixolydian mode is common in non-classical harmony, such asfolk,jazz,funk,blues,and rock music. It is often prominently heard in music played on theGreat Highland bagpipes.

[In the blues progression, for] example [often] uses D Mixolydian triads...over the D7 [tonic] chord, then uses G Mixolydian triads...over the G7 [subdominant] chord, and so on.^[9]

As with natural and harmonic minor, Mixolydian is often used with a major seventh degree as a part of the dominant andperfect cadences."Wild Thing"byThe Troggsis a, "perfect example," while others include "Tangled Up in Blue"byBob Dylan,"Shooting Star"byBad Company,and "Bold as Love"byJimi Hendrix.^[8]

Klezmermusicians refer to the Mixolydian scale as theAdonai malakh mode.In Klezmer, it is usually transposed to C, where the main chords used are C, F, and G7 (sometimes Gm).^[10]

To hear a modern Mixolydian scale, one can play a G-major scale on the piano, but change the F# to F natural.

Notable music in Mixolydian mode

Hit songs in Mixolydian include "Paperback Writer"...,"Manic Depression"...," Fire "...,"Reelin' in the Years"...,"Only You Know and I Know"...," Tears of a Clown "...,"Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"...,"Norwegian Wood"...,"Saturday Night's Alright..., "My Generation"...,"Centerfold"...,"Boogie Fever"...,"Hollywood Nights"..., and many others.^[11]

Some song examples that are either entirely based in Mixolydian mode or at least have a Mixolydian section include the following: "But Anyway"...,"Cinnamon Girl"...,"Cult of Personality"...,"Fire on the Mountain"...,"Franklin's Tower"...,"Get Down Tonight".^[12]

Traditional

"Old Joe Clark"^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]
"Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair"(English:Gweedore's Green Glens), also called "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shores" – A traditional Irishfolk song,composed byFrancie Mooney(Proinsias Ó Maonaigh).^[17]^[18]Recorded by the bandAltan,with Mooney's daughter Mairéad on lead vocals, on their albumRunaway Sunday(1997). Recorded byThe Corrsas "Erin Shore" on their album Forgiven Not Forgotten (1995).
"She Moved Through the Fair"– A traditional Irish folk song.^[19]Sometimes called "Our Wedding Day" and sung with different lyrics, such as by vocalist Anne Buckley inMichael Flatley'sLord of the Dance(1996).
"TheWexford Carol"
"Green Bushes"
And countlessIrish,ScottishandCape Breton jigs,reels,highlandsand other dance tunes recorded in the mode.

Classical

"Fughetta super: Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot" in G major fromClavier-Übung III,BWV 679byJohann Sebastian Bach^[20]^[21]
Piano Concerto in A minor,third movement, byEdvard Grieg^[20]
Concerto in modo misolidio,P 145 (1925) byOttorino Respighi^[22]^[21]
Et resurrexit fromBeethoven's Missa solemnis
Surgam et circuibo civitatembyPalestrina^[21]

"Sweet Child o' Mine"byGuns N' Roses^[23]
"Thunderstruck"byAC/DC^[24]
"You Really Got Me"bythe Kinks^[25]
"I Feel Fine"bythe Beatles^[26]
"Love Shack"bythe B-52s
"Express Yourself"byMadonna^[27]
"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"bythe Beatles^[28]^[11]
"Royals"byLorde^[29]^[21]
"Born This Way"byLady Gaga^[30]
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"byBeyoncé^[31]
"Clocks"byColdplay^[32]^[21]^[33]
"Be Near Me"and"When Smokey Sings"byABC
"Freedom! '90"byGeorge Michael
"Happy Together"bythe Turtles^[34]
"Beautiful"byChristina Aguilera
"Epistrophy"byThelonious Monk^[35]
"Celebration"byKool & the Gang
"Freedom Jazz Dance"byEddie Harris^[35]
"Dark Star"byGrateful Dead^[21]^[33]
"L.A. Woman"bythe Doors^[21]^[33]
"All Blues"byMiles Davis^[21]
"If I Needed Someone"bythe Beatles^[33]
"Yes, And?"byAriana Grande
"Unwritten"byNatasha Bedingfield
"Marquee Moon"byTelevision^[33]
"Sweet Home Alabama"byLynyrd Skynyrd^[33]
"Collision Chaos" fromSonic CD
"Revelation Song"byJennie Lee Riddle^[36]^[37]
"This Is A Life" bySon Lux,Mitski,andDavid Byrne

References

^Anne Carson(ed.),If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho(New York: Vintage Books, 2002), p. ix.ISBN 978-0-375-72451-0.Carson citesPseudo-Plutarch,On Music16 (1136c Steph.), who in turn namesAristoxenusas his authority.
^Thomas J. Mathiesen,"Greece",The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,2nd edition, 29 vols., edited byStanley SadieandJohn Tyrrell,(London:Macmillan Publishers,2001), 10:339.ISBN 1-56159-239-0OCLC 44391762.
^Harold S. Powers,"Dorian",The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,2nd edition, edited byStanley SadieandJohn Tyrrell(London: Macmillan Publishers, 2001).
^Harold S. Powersand Frans Wiering, "Mixolydian",The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,2nd edition, 29 vols., edited byStanley SadieandJohn Tyrrell,16:766–767 (London:Macmillan Publishers,2001), 767.ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.
^Harold S. Powersand Frans Wiering, "Hypomixolydian",The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,2nd edition, 29 vols., edited byStanley SadieandJohn Tyrrell,12:38 (London:Macmillan Publishers,2001)ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.
^Dan Haerle,Scales for Jazz Improvisation(Hialeah: Columbia Pictures Publications; Lebanon, Indiana: Studio P/R; Miami: Warner Bros, 1983), p. 15.ISBN 978-0-89898-705-8.
^Berle, Arnie (1 April 1997)."The Mixolydian Mode/Dominant Seventh Scale".Mel Bay's Encyclopedia of Scales, Modes and Melodic Patterns: A Unique Approach to Developing Ear, Mind and Finger Coordination.Mel Bay Publications, Incorporated. p. 33.ISBN 978-0-7866-1791-3.
^^a ^bSerena, Desi (2021).Guitar Theory For Dummies with Online PracticeM, p.168. Wiley.ISBN 9781119843177.
^Harrison, Mark (2008).Stuff! Good Piano Players Should Know,p. 78. Hal Leonard.ISBN 9781423427810.
^Dick Weissman and Dan Fox,A Guide to Non-Jazz Improvisation: Guitar Edition(Pacific, Missouri: Mel Bay Publications, 2009): p. 130.ISBN 978-0-7866-0751-8.
^^a ^bKachulis, Jimmy (2004).The Songwriter's Workshop,p.39. Berklee Press.ISBN 9781476867373
^Serna, Desi (2021).Guitar Theory For Dummies with Online Practice,p.272.ISBN 9781119842972
^Wendy Anthony, "Building a Traditional Tune Repertoire: Old Joe Clark (Key of A-Mixolydian)Archived3 March 2016 at theWayback Machine",Mandolin Sessionswebzine (February 2007) |(Accessed 2 February 2010).
^Ted Eschliman, "Something Old. Something New Archived4 March 2016 at theWayback Machine",Mandolin Sessionswebzine (November 2009) (Accessed 2 February 2010).
^Micheal Houlahan, Philip Tacka (2015).Kodály in the Fifth Grade Classroom,p.104. Oxford.ISBN 9780190236243.
^Houlahan, Michael and Tacka, Philip (2008).Kodaly Today,p.56. Oxford.ISBN 9780198042860.
^"Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore"– via thesession.org.
^"Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore - Download Sheet Music PDF file".
^Allen, Patrick(1999).Developing Singing Matters.Oxford:Heinemann Educational Publishers.p.22.ISBN 0-435-81018-9.OCLC 42040205.^{[dead link‍]}
^^a ^bWalter Piston.Harmony(New York: W. W. Norton, 1941): pp. 29–30.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^hFarrant, Dan (24 October 2021)."12 Examples Of Songs In The Mixolydian Mode".Retrieved31 January2023.
^"Concerto in Modo Misolidio for Piano and Orchestra – Three Preludes on Gregorian Themes"by Adriano, English adaptation by David Nelson,Naxos Recordscat. 8.220176 (1986)
^"Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis – Hooktheory".www.hooktheory.com.Retrieved28 June2023.
^"Thunderstruck by AC DC Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis – Hooktheory".www.hooktheory.com.Retrieved28 June2023.
^"Leonard Bernstein on Rock Music"– via YouTube.
^"The Mixolydian Mode--The Sound of Rock"– via YouTube.
^"Express Yourself by Madonna Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis".HookTheory.com.Retrieved15 April2024.
^"The Mixolydian Mode--The Sound of Rock (at 1:46)"– via YouTube.
^"Getting Really Medieval?: Mixolydian Mode in Lorde's" Royals "".
^"Born This Way by Lady Gaga Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis".HookTheory.com.Retrieved15 April2024.
^"Why 'Single Ladies' is so cool | Q+A"– via YouTube.
^"Changing the Mix: Mixolydian Mode in Coldplay's" Clocks "".Rebel Music Teacher.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f"7 songs featuring Mixolydian mode".Music Tales.2020.Retrieved31 January2023.
^"Happy Together by The Turtles Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis – Hooktheory".hooktheory.com.
^^a ^bGross, David (1997).Harmonic Colours in Bass,p.28.ISBN 9781576239353.
^"Who is the original singer of the Revelation Song".steadyprintshop.com.
^"Revelation Song | Official Song Resources on SongSelect®".songselect.ccli.com.

External links

Media related toMixolydian modeat Wikimedia Commons
Mixolydian scale on guitar

[1] Anne Carson(ed.),If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho(New York: Vintage Books, 2002), p. ix.ISBN 978-0-375-72451-0.Carson citesPseudo-Plutarch,On Music16 (1136c Steph.), who in turn namesAristoxenusas his authority.

[2] Thomas J. Mathiesen,"Greece",The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,2nd edition, 29 vols., edited byStanley SadieandJohn Tyrrell,(London:Macmillan Publishers,2001), 10:339.ISBN 1-56159-239-0OCLC 44391762.

[3] Harold S. Powers,"Dorian",The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,2nd edition, edited byStanley SadieandJohn Tyrrell(London: Macmillan Publishers, 2001).

[4] Harold S. Powersand Frans Wiering, "Mixolydian",The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,2nd edition, 29 vols., edited byStanley SadieandJohn Tyrrell,16:766–767 (London:Macmillan Publishers,2001), 767.ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.

[5] Harold S. Powersand Frans Wiering, "Hypomixolydian",The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,2nd edition, 29 vols., edited byStanley SadieandJohn Tyrrell,12:38 (London:Macmillan Publishers,2001)ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.

[6] Dan Haerle,Scales for Jazz Improvisation(Hialeah: Columbia Pictures Publications; Lebanon, Indiana: Studio P/R; Miami: Warner Bros, 1983), p. 15.ISBN 978-0-89898-705-8.

[berle1997p33-7] Berle, Arnie (1 April 1997)."The Mixolydian Mode/Dominant Seventh Scale".Mel Bay's Encyclopedia of Scales, Modes and Melodic Patterns: A Unique Approach to Developing Ear, Mind and Finger Coordination.Mel Bay Publications, Incorporated. p. 33.ISBN 978-0-7866-1791-3.

[Serena-8] Serena, Desi (2021).Guitar Theory For Dummies with Online PracticeM, p.168. Wiley.ISBN 9781119843177.

[9] Harrison, Mark (2008).Stuff! Good Piano Players Should Know,p. 78. Hal Leonard.ISBN 9781423427810.

[10] Dick Weissman and Dan Fox,A Guide to Non-Jazz Improvisation: Guitar Edition(Pacific, Missouri: Mel Bay Publications, 2009): p. 130.ISBN 978-0-7866-0751-8.

[Workshop-11] Kachulis, Jimmy (2004).The Songwriter's Workshop,p.39. Berklee Press.ISBN 9781476867373

[12] Serna, Desi (2021).Guitar Theory For Dummies with Online Practice,p.272.ISBN 9781119842972

[13] Wendy Anthony, "Building a Traditional Tune Repertoire: Old Joe Clark (Key of A-Mixolydian)Archived3 March 2016 at theWayback Machine",Mandolin Sessionswebzine (February 2007) |(Accessed 2 February 2010).

[EschlimanNov2009-14] Ted Eschliman, "Something Old. Something New Archived4 March 2016 at theWayback Machine",Mandolin Sessionswebzine (November 2009) (Accessed 2 February 2010).

[15] Micheal Houlahan, Philip Tacka (2015).Kodály in the Fifth Grade Classroom,p.104. Oxford.ISBN 9780190236243.

[16] Houlahan, Michael and Tacka, Philip (2008).Kodaly Today,p.56. Oxford.ISBN 9780198042860.

[17] "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore"– via thesession.org.

[18] "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore - Download Sheet Music PDF file".

[19] Allen, Patrick(1999).Developing Singing Matters.Oxford:Heinemann Educational Publishers.p.22.ISBN 0-435-81018-9.OCLC 42040205.^{[dead link‍]}

[Harmony_1941_pp._29-20] Walter Piston.Harmony(New York: W. W. Norton, 1941): pp. 29–30.

[Hello-21] ^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^hFarrant, Dan (24 October 2021)."12 Examples Of Songs In The Mixolydian Mode".Retrieved31 January2023.

[22] "Concerto in Modo Misolidio for Piano and Orchestra – Three Preludes on Gregorian Themes"by Adriano, English adaptation by David Nelson,Naxos Recordscat. 8.220176 (1986)

[23] "Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis – Hooktheory".www.hooktheory.com.Retrieved28 June2023.

[24] "Thunderstruck by AC DC Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis – Hooktheory".www.hooktheory.com.Retrieved28 June2023.

[25] "Leonard Bernstein on Rock Music"– via YouTube.

[26] "The Mixolydian Mode--The Sound of Rock"– via YouTube.

[27] "Express Yourself by Madonna Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis".HookTheory.com.Retrieved15 April2024.

[28] "The Mixolydian Mode--The Sound of Rock (at 1:46)"– via YouTube.

[29] "Getting Really Medieval?: Mixolydian Mode in Lorde's" Royals "".

[30] "Born This Way by Lady Gaga Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis".HookTheory.com.Retrieved15 April2024.

[31] "Why 'Single Ladies' is so cool | Q+A"– via YouTube.

[32] "Changing the Mix: Mixolydian Mode in Coldplay's" Clocks "".Rebel Music Teacher.

[Tales-33] "7 songs featuring Mixolydian mode".Music Tales.2020.Retrieved31 January2023.

[34] "Happy Together by The Turtles Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis – Hooktheory".hooktheory.com.

[Colours-35] Gross, David (1997).Harmonic Colours in Bass,p.28.ISBN 9781576239353.

[36] "Who is the original singer of the Revelation Song".steadyprintshop.com.

[37] "Revelation Song | Official Song Resources on SongSelect®".songselect.ccli.com.

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Mixolydian mode

Contents