Chords in E Mixolydian

E Mixolydian is built from the notes E, F#, G#, A, B, C# and D. Its scale carries 3 sharps. Harmonising that scale in thirds gives seven chords — 3 majors, 3 minors and 1 diminished — starting on E as the I. The chord on the fifth degree is Bm rather than a major V, so E Mixolydian has no leading tone and resolves by step and colour instead of by dominant pull — the sound that separates it from a plain E minor.

Beyond those seven, E Mixolydian commonly borrows Em (i), F#dim (iiø), G (bIII), Am (iv) and C (bVI) from the parallel minor — the mixture chords that give a progression somewhere unexpected to go.