Guitar scale reference
Mixolydian scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
Mixolydian is a major mode with a flattened 7th. It fits dominant seventh harmony naturally and combines a clear major 3rd with a less final, more circular pull than the major scale.
What gives the scale its sound
The major 3rd and flattened 7th form the tritone inside a dominant seventh chord. Treat them as structural targets and use the 4th as a passing tension.
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7
- Notes in C
- C · D · E · F · G · A · B♭
C Mixolydian across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8-10--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8-10-11----------11-10--8----------------------------------| G|-------------------------7--9-10----------------------------10--9--7-------------------------| D|----------------7--8-10----------------------------------------------10--8--7----------------| A|-------7--8-10----------------------------------------------------------------10--8--7-------| E|-8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--8-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------10-12-13-12-10-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------10-11-13----------------13-11-10----------------------------------| G|-------------------------9-10-12----------------------------------12-10--9-------------------------| D|------------------10-12----------------------------------------------------12-10-------------------| A|---------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10----------| E|10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------12-13-15-13-12----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------11-13-15----------------15-13-11-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------12-14-15----------------------------------15-14-12----------------------------| D|------------------12-14-15----------------------------------------------------15-14-12-------------------| A|---------12-13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------15-13-12----------| E|12-13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-13-12-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 14–18
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------15-17-18-17-15-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------15-17-18----------------18-17-15----------------------------------| G|------------------------14-15-17----------------------------------17-15-14-------------------------| D|---------------14-15-17----------------------------------------------------17-15-14----------------| A|---------15-17----------------------------------------------------------------------17-15----------| E|15-17-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-17-15-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 16–20
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------17-18-20-18-17-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------17-18-20----------------20-18-17----------------------------------| G|---------------------------17-19----------------------------------19-17----------------------------| D|------------------17-19-20----------------------------------------------20-19-17-------------------| A|---------17-19-20----------------------------------------------------------------20-19-17----------| E|17-18-20----------------------------------------------------------------------------------20-18-17-|
Practice drill
Arpeggiate 1–3–5–♭7 inside each scale position, then fill the gaps with neighbouring scale tones. Link positions by resolving ♭7 down to 6 or up to the root.
Open the scale randomiser