STRINGSCALES

B mixolydian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, C# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11

G string: G#, A, B, C#, D#, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

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

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

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

B 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:

B

I

Bmaj
C♯

ii

C♯m
D♯

iii°

D♯dim
E

IV

Emaj
F♯

v

F♯m
G♯

vi

G♯m
A

bVII

Amaj

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

Same notes, different mode

B 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.

C# minor · relative minorD# locrianE major · relative majorF# dorianG# phrygianA lydian

mixolydian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Aim at the flat 7th (A) over a dominant chord: it is the note that makes B7 sound at rest instead of leading anywhere.
  • Bluesify it: bend the 3rd (D#), add the flat 3rd as a passing note, and B mixolydian becomes roots rock vocabulary immediately.
  • Vamp I to bVII (A) major chords (both in the scale) for the classic rock and jam-band mixolydian groove in B.
  • Over a static 7th chord, alternate mixolydian runs with the B major pentatonic to lighten the dominant color.

How to play B mixolydian on guitar

Open B string is the root, so a top-string pedal is available with no fretting at all. Four open strings belong to the key, with both E strings the fourth and the open A the minor seventh. Lowest root is fret 7 on the low E, so the first shape stops working at fret 11. Roots also occupy fret 2 on the A string, fret 4 on the G and fret 9 on the D, letting you cross strings without leaving the lower positions. Capo at fret 2 restores A fingering.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.