Guitar scale reference
C♯ 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 C♯
- C♯ · D♯ · E♯ · F♯ · G♯ · A♯ · B
C♯ 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 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-11--9-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------9-11-12----------12-11--9----------------------------------| G|-------------------------8-10-11----------------------------11-10--8-------------------------| D|----------------8--9-11----------------------------------------------11--9--8----------------| A|-------8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8-------| E|-9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11--9-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-13-14-13-11-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------11-12-14----------------14-12-11----------------------------------| G|------------------------10-11-13----------------------------------13-11-10-------------------------| D|------------------11-13----------------------------------------------------13-11-------------------| A|---------11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11----------| E|11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------13-14-16-14-13----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------12-14-16----------------16-14-12-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------13-15-16----------------------------------16-15-13----------------------------| D|------------------13-15-16----------------------------------------------------16-15-13-------------------| A|---------13-14-16----------------------------------------------------------------------16-14-13----------| E|13-14-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-14-13-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 15–19
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------16-18-19-18-16-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------16-18-19----------------19-18-16----------------------------------| G|------------------------15-16-18----------------------------------18-16-15-------------------------| D|---------------15-16-18----------------------------------------------------18-16-15----------------| A|---------16-18----------------------------------------------------------------------18-16----------| E|16-18-19----------------------------------------------------------------------------------19-18-16-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 17–21
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------18-19-21-19-18-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------18-19-21----------------21-19-18----------------------------------| G|---------------------------18-20----------------------------------20-18----------------------------| D|------------------18-20-21----------------------------------------------21-20-18-------------------| A|---------18-20-21----------------------------------------------------------------21-20-18----------| E|18-19-21----------------------------------------------------------------------------------21-19-18-|
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