
I wrote this a few years ago with the idea of just writing something interesting. Over the last year, while writing a set of pieces to illustrate each mode, I realized that this is perfect for Mixolydian. I wrote in G Mixolydian, the best key to use for something that shows the mode, because it’s G to G and all white.
It occurred to me that is was awfully short, so I added a short intro.

Then I transposed to F Mixolydian, made a few more small changes, then added a modulation to take me to G Mixolydian. What is the feel? To me this is actually a bit like something slow in New Orleans, just a bit of Dixieland feel.
Mixolydian is like a major scale with b7, and it fits perfectly with what we often call “dominant 7 chords”. As a sound it goes way back in time, particularly in folk songs from a few centuries ago.
It’s also the most common scale in the major blues sound, but often playing around with both b3 and regular 3, which blurs the feeling of major and minor, and that gives the sound a more expressive sound. Especially in slow music it’s what gives the feeling of “the blues”. I’m fascinated with this sound, because growing up I was not exposed to it at all, and I had to learn about it in my late teens and early 20s. I think there is a kind of life affirming positivity in it, but also a sadness that is impossible to describe.
The old version sounded great. With the changes you made it’s even better. I’m going to try playing it.
I like the cool bluesy sound of this music. Putting all the mode pieces together in a playlist is a great idea.