Guitar scale reference
G♭ 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 G♭
- G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F♭
G♭ 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 1–5
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------2--4--2-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------2--4--5-----------5--4--2----------------------------------| G|-------------------------1--3--4-----------------------------4--3--1-------------------------| D|----------------1--2--4-----------------------------------------------4--2--1----------------| A|-------1--2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------4--2--1-------| E|-2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4--2-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------4--6--7--6--4-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------4--5--7-----------------7--5--4----------------------------------| G|-------------------------3--4--6-----------------------------------6--4--3-------------------------| D|-------------------4--6-----------------------------------------------------6--4-------------------| A|----------4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------------------7--6--4----------| E|-4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--6--4-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------6--7--9--7--6----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------5--7--9-----------------9--7--5-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------6--8--9-----------------------------------9--8--6----------------------------| D|-------------------6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------9--8--6-------------------| A|----------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6----------| E|-6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-11-12-11--9-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------9-11-12----------------12-11--9----------------------------------| G|-------------------------8--9-11----------------------------------11--9--8-------------------------| D|----------------8--9-11----------------------------------------------------11--9--8----------------| A|----------9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------11--9----------| E|-9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-12-14-12-11-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------11-12-14----------------14-12-11----------------------------------| G|---------------------------11-13----------------------------------13-11----------------------------| D|------------------11-13-14----------------------------------------------14-13-11-------------------| A|---------11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11----------| E|11-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-12-11-|
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