Mixolydian 6ths

In this issue Shaun Baxter continues to explore ways of applying different intervals to create ear-catching Mixolydian lines.

- Shaun Baxter

I n this series, we’ve been looking at using certain intervals to create a variety of ideas to fit in with your Mixolydian vocabulary. So far, we’ve studied 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths. This lesson, we logically move on to 6ths. Within the modes of the Major scale, each 6th interval will be one of two types:

• Minor 6th = eight semitones.

• Major 6th = nine semitones.

To illustrate this, have a look at Diagram 1, which represents the notes of D Major and any of its modes (A Mixolydian is its fifth mode). If you start from any note, and then move in any direction (clockwise or anticlockwise) to another note that is five notes away (in other words, with four scale notes in between both notes), the distance is either a major 6th or a minor 6th.