Guitar scale reference
E♭ 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 E♭
- E♭ · F · G · A♭ · B♭ · C · D♭
E♭ 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 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-13-11-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------11-13-14----------14-13-11----------------------------------| G|------------------------10-12-13----------------------------13-12-10-------------------------| D|---------------10-11-13----------------------------------------------13-11-10----------------| A|------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10-------| E|11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-15-16-15-13-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------13-14-16----------------16-14-13----------------------------------| G|------------------------12-13-15----------------------------------15-13-12-------------------------| D|------------------13-15----------------------------------------------------15-13-------------------| A|---------13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13----------| E|13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 14–18
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------15-16-18-16-15----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------14-16-18----------------18-16-14-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------15-17-18----------------------------------18-17-15----------------------------| D|------------------15-17-18----------------------------------------------------18-17-15-------------------| A|---------15-16-18----------------------------------------------------------------------18-16-15----------| E|15-16-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-16-15-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 17–21
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------18-20-21-20-18-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------18-20-21----------------21-20-18----------------------------------| G|------------------------17-18-20----------------------------------20-18-17-------------------------| D|---------------17-18-20----------------------------------------------------20-18-17----------------| A|---------18-20----------------------------------------------------------------------20-18----------| E|18-20-21----------------------------------------------------------------------------------21-20-18-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 19–23
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------20-21-23-21-20-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------20-21-23----------------23-21-20----------------------------------| G|---------------------------20-22----------------------------------22-20----------------------------| D|------------------20-22-23----------------------------------------------23-22-20-------------------| A|---------20-22-23----------------------------------------------------------------23-22-20----------| E|20-21-23----------------------------------------------------------------------------------23-21-20-|
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