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 4–8
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------5--7--5-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------5--7--8-----------8--7--5----------------------------------| G|-------------------------4--6--7-----------------------------7--6--4-------------------------| D|----------------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------7--5--4----------------| A|-------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------7--5--4-------| E|-5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--5-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------7--9-10--9--7-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------7--8-10----------------10--8--7----------------------------------| G|-------------------------6--7--9-----------------------------------9--7--6-------------------------| D|-------------------7--9-----------------------------------------------------9--7-------------------| A|----------7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7----------| E|-7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------9-10-12-10--9----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------8-10-12----------------12-10--8-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-11-12----------------------------------12-11--9----------------------------| D|-------------------9-11-12----------------------------------------------------12-11--9-------------------| A|----------9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9----------| E|-9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------12-14-15-14-12-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------12-14-15----------------15-14-12----------------------------------| G|------------------------11-12-14----------------------------------14-12-11-------------------------| D|---------------11-12-14----------------------------------------------------14-12-11----------------| A|---------12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------14-12----------| E|12-14-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-14-12-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 13–17
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------14-15-17-15-14-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------14-15-17----------------17-15-14----------------------------------| G|---------------------------14-16----------------------------------16-14----------------------------| D|------------------14-16-17----------------------------------------------17-16-14-------------------| A|---------14-16-17----------------------------------------------------------------17-16-14----------| E|14-15-17----------------------------------------------------------------------------------17-15-14-|
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