Guitar scale reference
E 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 E
- E · F♯ · G♯ · A · B · C♯ · D
E 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 0–4
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------0--2--4--2--0----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------0--2--3-----------------3--2--0-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------1--2--4-----------------------------------4--2--1----------------------------| D|-------------------0--2--4-----------------------------------------------------4--2--0-------------------| A|----------0--2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------4--2--0----------| E|-0--2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4--2--0-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 1–5
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------2--4--5--4--2-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------2--3--5-----------------5--3--2----------------------------------| G|-------------------------1--2--4-----------------------------------4--2--1-------------------------| D|-------------------2--4-----------------------------------------------------4--2-------------------| A|----------2--4--5-----------------------------------------------------------------5--4--2----------| E|-2--4--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------5--4--2-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------4--5--7--5--4----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------3--5--7-----------------7--5--3-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------4--6--7-----------------------------------7--6--4----------------------------| D|-------------------4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------7--6--4-------------------| A|----------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--4----------| E|-4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--4-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------7--9-10--9--7-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------7--9-10----------------10--9--7----------------------------------| G|-------------------------6--7--9-----------------------------------9--7--6-------------------------| D|----------------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------9--7--6----------------| A|----------7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------9--7----------| E|-7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-10-12-10--9-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------9-10-12----------------12-10--9----------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-11----------------------------------11--9----------------------------| D|-------------------9-11-12----------------------------------------------12-11--9-------------------| A|----------9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9----------| E|-9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9-|
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