‘E flat mixolydian’ is the 5th mode of the Ab Major scale. The notes in Eb Mixolydian are:
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db
If you have read the post on understanding the mixolydian mode, you will know that the mixolydian mode contains a ‘flat 7’ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 5th mode of the major scale (derivative approach).
Because the flat 7′ (or ‘lowered 7’) is the only difference between the mixolydian mode and the major scale, it is a very simple mode to analyze.
The Eb mixolydian mode is the default scale that is used to improvise over Eb dominant 7 chords.
Let’s briefly look at how to construct Eb mixolydian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
Eb Mixolydian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
Eb Major has the following notes:
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D
If we ‘lower’ the 7th note, we get the following:
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db
Eb Mixolydian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
Eb is the 5th note of the Ab major scale:
Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G
If we play the Ab major scale and start on the 5th note we get the following:
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db
Let’s look at the Eb mixolydian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
Eb Mixolydian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
Eb Mixolydian CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at Eb mixolydian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
Eb Mixolydian 3rd Position (Lowest Fret is 3)
Eb Mixolydian 4th Position (Lowest Fret is 4)
Eb Mixolydian 8th Position (Lowest Fret is 8)
Eb Mixolydian 9th Position (Lowest Fret is 9)
Eb Mixolydian 12th Position (Lowest Fret is 12)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of Eb mixolydian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the mixolydian mode, check out mixolydian mode explained.
Further Reading
- Eb7 chord (Eb mixolydian works well over this chord).
- Eb7 arpeggio (Eb mixolydian is a great companion to the Eb dominant 7 arpeggio).
- Ab Major scale contains the mode of Eb mixolydian.
