Which mode is major scale with lowered seventh?

• A. Ionian
• B. Aeolian
• C. Dorian
• D. Mixolydian

Answer: (D)

Think about how modes relate to the major scale. When you take the major scale and flatten its seventh degree, you get Mixolydian. For example, in the G major family, the seventh degree is F#. Lowering that to F natural gives G Mixolydian: G A B C D E F G. The defining feature here is that lowered seventh, which the other modes modify in different ways: Ionian is just the major scale with a natural seventh, Aeolian is the natural minor, and Dorian has a lowered third and seventh relative to the major. So the mode described by a major-scale pattern with a lowered seventh is Mixolydian.