Is this not Mixolydian?

[AlphaMale]

There is a song, the key signature is Ab.

It's about 8 bars long. It begins on Eb, doesn't change keys and then ends on Eb.

I told someone it was Eb mixolydian, my teacher said it was Ionian, I said I think it's Eb Mixolydian , he said you can think so, but you're wrong. It was pretty humiliating, but I'm pretty sure, and some other students told me they thought it was mixolydian also. Mixolydian is very common in Russian folk music too.

I'm pretty sure I'm right, if not please correct me. I know you'd have to see the piece, but I am certain that it was, you would think so to with the description I gave you, I guess. It was a very simple beginner sight-singing piece.


And what should I do about it, should I talk to the professor about it and ask him for an apology, or not talk to about it. I don't want to seem like a baby, but I don't want to be humiliated for being wrong (especially about music) if I wasn't wrong in the first place.

[Mark Wilson]

Does it have a Db? or D natural?

[bryan bailey]

Well, Ionian is major. Does it sound like Eb major?

[Mark Wilson]

Ah it just clicked in.

If the key sig is Ab, (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db) then it DOES have a Db.

So it's definitely NOT in Eb. That's a whole different key signature.

I'd say you're right, and your teacher is wrong.

UNLESS there is an accidental making it a D natural. Then it's debatable.

[tranceFusion]

Eb would be the 5th mode of the Ab scale.. mixolydian..

[AlphaMale]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Ah it just clicked in.

If the key sig is Ab, (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db) then it DOES have a Db.

So it's definitely NOT in Eb. That's a whole different key signature.

I'd say you're right, and your teacher is wrong.

UNLESS there is an accidental making it a D natural. Then it's debatable.

No Eb Ionian, Eb Mixolydian.

Originally Posted by tranceFusion

Eb would be the 5th mode of the Ab scale.. mixolydian..

Thanks so I was probably right, correct?