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 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------7--9--7-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------7--9-10----------10--9--7----------------------------------| G|-------------------------6--8--9-----------------------------9--8--6-------------------------| D|----------------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------9--7--6----------------| A|-------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6-------| E|-7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--7-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-11-12-11--9-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------9-10-12----------------12-10--9----------------------------------| G|-------------------------8--9-11----------------------------------11--9--8-------------------------| D|-------------------9-11----------------------------------------------------11--9-------------------| A|----------9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9----------| E|-9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------11-12-14-12-11----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------10-12-14----------------14-12-10-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------11-13-14----------------------------------14-13-11----------------------------| D|------------------11-13-14----------------------------------------------------14-13-11-------------------| A|---------11-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------14-12-11----------| E|11-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-12-11-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 13–17
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------14-16-17-16-14-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------14-16-17----------------17-16-14----------------------------------| G|------------------------13-14-16----------------------------------16-14-13-------------------------| D|---------------13-14-16----------------------------------------------------16-14-13----------------| A|---------14-16----------------------------------------------------------------------16-14----------| E|14-16-17----------------------------------------------------------------------------------17-16-14-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 15–19
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------16-17-19-17-16-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------16-17-19----------------19-17-16----------------------------------| G|---------------------------16-18----------------------------------18-16----------------------------| D|------------------16-18-19----------------------------------------------19-18-16-------------------| A|---------16-18-19----------------------------------------------------------------19-18-16----------| E|16-17-19----------------------------------------------------------------------------------19-17-16-|
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