Guitar scale reference
A♭ 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 A♭
- A♭ · B♭ · C · D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭
A♭ 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 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------4--6--4-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------4--6--7-----------7--6--4----------------------------------| G|-------------------------3--5--6-----------------------------6--5--3-------------------------| D|----------------3--4--6-----------------------------------------------6--4--3----------------| A|-------3--4--6-----------------------------------------------------------------6--4--3-------| E|-4--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------6--4-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------6--8--9--8--6-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------6--7--9-----------------9--7--6----------------------------------| G|-------------------------5--6--8-----------------------------------8--6--5-------------------------| D|-------------------6--8-----------------------------------------------------8--6-------------------| A|----------6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------------------9--8--6----------| E|-6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--8--6-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------8--9-11--9--8----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------7--9-11----------------11--9--7-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------8-10-11----------------------------------11-10--8----------------------------| D|-------------------8-10-11----------------------------------------------------11-10--8-------------------| A|----------8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8----------| E|-8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-13-14-13-11-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------11-13-14----------------14-13-11----------------------------------| G|------------------------10-11-13----------------------------------13-11-10-------------------------| D|---------------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------13-11-10----------------| A|---------11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------13-11----------| E|11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-14-16-14-13-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------13-14-16----------------16-14-13----------------------------------| G|---------------------------13-15----------------------------------15-13----------------------------| D|------------------13-15-16----------------------------------------------16-15-13-------------------| A|---------13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13----------| E|13-14-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-14-13-|
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