D# Mixolydian Guitar Scale — Open D
Guitar scale in Open D tuning — fretboard diagram
D# Mixolydian in Open D — Notes and Intervals
The D# Mixolydian scale is the fifth mode of the major scale and the heart of rock and roll and blues. On Guitar, it contains the notes D#, F, G, G#, A#, C, C#. It combines the stability of a major sound with a more relaxed, folk-like ending, perfectly suited for soloing over dominant seventh chords and providing a bluesy, soulful vibe to major-key songs. The diatonic chords of D# Mixolydian are D#7, Fm7, Gm7b5, G#Maj7, A#m7, Cm7, C#Maj7. Commonly used in Blues, Rock, Country, Folk, Funk. Notable players include Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers, AC/DC, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Use over dominant 7th chords (7, 9, 13). The primary scale for blues-rock soloing over non-resolving dominant chords.
Notes: D#, F, G, G#, A#, C, C#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: W-W-H-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Tuning: Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
Also known as: dominant
Diatonic Chords
D♯7 — Fm7 — Gm7♭5 — G♯Maj7 — A♯m7 — Cm7 — C♯Maj7
About Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) produces a full D major chord when strummed open, creating a warm, resonant sound that has been a staple of slide guitar, folk, and acoustic music for over a century. The three D strings create a deep, droning foundation that makes even simple chord shapes sound lush and full.
Open D is closely related to Open E (same intervals, just a whole step lower) but puts less tension on the guitar neck, making it safer for acoustic instruments. It was a favorite of Joni Mitchell, who used it extensively for her unique chord voicings, and Bob Dylan, who popularized it in folk-rock. For slide players, Open D provides the same intuitive major-chord-at-any-fret approach as Open G but with a warmer, deeper character.
Notable artists: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Bruce Cockburn, Elmore James
Best for: Slide guitar, folk fingerpicking, singer-songwriter arrangements, and acoustic compositions with rich open-string resonance
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D# Mixolydian in Standard Tuning
- D# Mixolydian in Drop D
- D# Mixolydian in DADGAD
- D# Mixolydian in Open G
- D# Mixolydian in Baritone (B Standard)
- D# Mixolydian in 7-string
- D# Mixolydian in 8-string
- D# Mixolydian in Drop C
- D# Mixolydian in Drop B
- D# Mixolydian in Half Step Down
- D# Mixolydian in Open E
- D# Mixolydian in Open A
- D# Mixolydian in Double Drop D
- D# Mixolydian in Open C