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Hi everyone, this is Stanley. I got a question which may be asked by someone already in certain shape or form so please forgive me. In EP556, under the C shape (key of E), i understand that i can play the “E” mixolydian (which is effective an A major scale) over the key of E. I also understand from ML 106 (and from other lessons) that when playing in the key of E, I can simply play the E major scale all the time, which is effectively a “B” mixolydian scale when it’s played over the B chord. If I look at both scenarios, am I correct to say that when playing in the key of E, it is ok to play either B or E mixolydian?
Thank you
Stanley -
Hi Stanley,
Which scale you use will depend on the underlying chord harmony.
For example, if you are using an E major 7 as your I chord, which contains a major 7, using E mixolydian will sound wrong as it contains a flat 7. The E major scale will be correct.
If you’re playing a dominant blues with E7 as the I, then E mixolydian will sound great over that chord. However, it may not sound good over the A7 and B7, where you might want to use an E minor pentatonic sound perhaps modified with some target notes from within the chord changes. Alternatively, you could play A mixolydian over the A and B mixolydian over the B as the A7 and B7 are actually key changes, being the V or dominant chords of D major E major.
Hope, I haven’t confused the heck out of you.
John -
One more thought, Stanley.
You can use E mixolydian over an E mixolydian progression. That is a progression where the chords are all from the key of A major but the tonal centre or home resolution is the E chord.
Common E mixolydian progressions would be a two chord jam like E to D or a common rock progression like E, D to A.
John -
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