STRINGSCALES

A mixolydian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

D string: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

B string: B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

High E string: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

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A mixolydian

The mixolydian mode is a major scale with a flat 7th, the mode of the fifth degree. It is the sound of the dominant 7th chord stretched into a scale, which makes it the working scale of blues rock, country twang and jam band vamps. Anywhere a song sits on a 7th chord without resolving, mixolydian is home base.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

Amaj
B

ii

Bm
C♯

iii°

C♯dim
D

IV

Dmaj
E

v

Em
F♯

vi

F♯m
G

bVII

Gmaj

Characteristic note: G (b7), the flat seventh that makes mixolydian the go-to scale over dominant chords.

Same notes, different mode

A mixolydian uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

B minor · relative minorC# locrianD major · relative majorE dorianF# phrygianG lydian

mixolydian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Aim at the flat 7th (G) over a dominant chord: it is the note that makes A7 sound at rest instead of leading anywhere.
  • Bluesify it: bend the 3rd (C#), add the flat 3rd as a passing note, and A mixolydian becomes roots rock vocabulary immediately.
  • Vamp I to bVII (G) major chords (both in the scale) for the classic rock and jam-band mixolydian groove in A.
  • Over a static 7th chord, alternate mixolydian runs with the A major pentatonic to lighten the dominant color.

How to play A mixolydian on guitar

Open A is the root and both E strings are the fifth, so three open strings can drone under the key. Every open string is in the scale. Lowest root is fret 5 on the low E, giving box one a ceiling at fret 9. Other roots sit at fret 2 on the G string, fret 7 on the D and fret 10 on the B, which lets you stay near the nut without a capo. Chord v is Em.

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