Mixolydian RockChord progression · I – ♭VII – IV – I
Southern rock and folk rock — bVII gives it that open, earthy sound.
In C Mixolydian
Why the Mixolydian Rock progression works
Mixolydian is major with a flat 7th, so the bVII takes the place of V. It has no leading tone, so it does not pull hard toward home, it rolls back and forth. That is the open, earthy sound.
Songs built on it, each in its own key:
- Sweet Home Alabama
- Hey Jude (the na-na-na ending)
Heard in: Classic rockHard rockBlues rockIndie rockProgressive rockCountryFolk
How to play Mixolydian Rock in C Mixolydian
One voicing per chord, each the nearest to the chord before, so your hand stays in one spot. Open any chord in the chord library for every other way to play it.
Mixolydian Rock chords in all 12 keys
The same numerals in every key. Each chord opens in the chord library, and each key plays in the progression builder.
What scale to play over Mixolydian Rock
Over the whole progression in C Mixolydian: C Mixolydian, C Major pentatonic. To follow every chord, switch to the scale the progression builder picks for it.
| Chord | Scale over it |
|---|---|
| I · C | C Mixolydian |
| ♭VII · B♭ | B♭ Lydian |
| IV · F | F Major |
Mixolydian Rock questions
What are the chords of the Mixolydian Rock progression?
I – ♭VII – IV – I. In C Mixolydian that is C, B♭, F, C; in G Mixolydian it is G, F, C, G.
Which songs use the Mixolydian Rock progression?
Sweet Home Alabama and Hey Jude (the na-na-na ending), each in its own key.
What scale do you play over the Mixolydian Rock progression?
C Mixolydian and C Major pentatonic fit the whole progression in C Mixolydian. Chord by chord: C Mixolydian over C, B♭ Lydian over B♭, F Major over F.
How do you play the Mixolydian Rock progression in another key?
Keep the numerals and move every chord by the same distance. The table on this page spells it in all 12 keys, and each key opens in the progression builder.