Guitar scale reference
B♭ 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 B♭
- B♭ · C · D · E♭ · F · G · A♭
B♭ 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 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------6--8--6-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------6--8--9-----------9--8--6----------------------------------| G|-------------------------5--7--8-----------------------------8--7--5-------------------------| D|----------------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------8--6--5----------------| A|-------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------8--6--5-------| E|-6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--6-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8-10-11-10--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8--9-11----------------11--9--8----------------------------------| G|-------------------------7--8-10----------------------------------10--8--7-------------------------| D|-------------------8-10----------------------------------------------------10--8-------------------| A|----------8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8----------| E|-8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------10-11-13-11-10----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------9-11-13----------------13-11--9-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------10-12-13----------------------------------13-12-10----------------------------| D|------------------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------13-12-10-------------------| A|---------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10----------| E|10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-15-16-15-13-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------13-15-16----------------16-15-13----------------------------------| G|------------------------12-13-15----------------------------------15-13-12-------------------------| D|---------------12-13-15----------------------------------------------------15-13-12----------------| A|---------13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------15-13----------| E|13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 14–18
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------15-16-18-16-15-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------15-16-18----------------18-16-15----------------------------------| G|---------------------------15-17----------------------------------17-15----------------------------| D|------------------15-17-18----------------------------------------------18-17-15-------------------| A|---------15-17-18----------------------------------------------------------------18-17-15----------| E|15-16-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-16-15-|
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.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser