The Mixolydian mode—like that one session musician who always shows up late, but when they do, the whole room shifts in just the right way. It’s not quite major, not quite minor—just mischievous enough to keep you on your toes. If Dorian is the brooding poet of Irish trad, Mixolydian is the cheeky storyteller with a glint in their eye and an extra pint on the way.
What Is Mixolydian Anyway?
Let’s not get too bogged down in theory—this is a session, not a university lecture. The Mixolydian mode is basically your good old major scale, but with the 7th note knocked down a peg. That’s right, the fancy term for this musical roguery is a ‘flattened seventh.’
In the key of D Mixolydian, you get: D – E – F# – G – A – B – C – D
That C-natural is the rascal that makes it Mixolydian. It gives the music a lift, a bit of swagger, and a touch of “ah sure, why not?”
Mixolydian in Irish Traditional Music
If you’ve been to enough sessions (or listened to enough Chieftains albums), you’ve definitely encountered this mode, whether you knew it or not. Plenty of tunes live here, particularly in the realm of reels and jigs. It’s a staple of the Irish trad diet—like potatoes, but with a bit more spice.
The Mixolydian Mood
Mixolydian tunes often feel lively but with a touch of longing, like the musical equivalent of a fond farewell at the pub—where everyone swears they’re going home but stays for ‘just one more.’ It’s joyful, but with a bit of edge, and always ready to change direction mid-step.
How to Spot a Mixolydian Tune in the Wild
- The 7th note sounds just a little… off? But in a good way.
- The chords tend to dance around the tonic (home note) and the flatted 7th chord (in D Mixolydian, that means a C major chord will pop up unexpectedly to say “Howya?”)
- It makes you want to grin while you play it, as if you’ve just pulled off the perfect musical prank.
The Final Word on Mixolydian Shenanigans
If Irish traditional music were a pub, Mixolydian would be the person telling the best stories while somehow never actually finishing their pint. It’s got just the right blend of mischief and melody to make tunes memorable, danceable, and just a little unpredictable—kind of like a good session itself.
So next time you’re at a session and hear that flatted seventh sneaking in, raise your glass (or your tin whistle) to the rogue prince of the Irish modes—Mixolydian, you lovable scoundrel.
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