Guitar scale reference
F 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 F
- F · G · A · B♭ · C · D · E♭
F 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|-------------------------------------------1--3--1-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------1--3--4-----------4--3--1----------------------------------| G|-------------------------0--2--3-----------------------------3--2--0-------------------------| D|----------------0--1--3-----------------------------------------------3--1--0----------------| A|-------0--1--3-----------------------------------------------------------------3--1--0-------| E|-1--3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3--1-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 2–6
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------3--5--6--5--3-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------3--4--6-----------------6--4--3----------------------------------| G|-------------------------2--3--5-----------------------------------5--3--2-------------------------| D|-------------------3--5-----------------------------------------------------5--3-------------------| A|----------3--5--6-----------------------------------------------------------------6--5--3----------| E|-3--5--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------6--5--3-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 4–8
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------5--6--8--6--5----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------4--6--8-----------------8--6--4-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------5--7--8-----------------------------------8--7--5----------------------------| D|-------------------5--7--8-----------------------------------------------------8--7--5-------------------| A|----------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------8--6--5----------| E|-5--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--6--5-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8-10-11-10--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8-10-11----------------11-10--8----------------------------------| G|-------------------------7--8-10----------------------------------10--8--7-------------------------| D|----------------7--8-10----------------------------------------------------10--8--7----------------| A|----------8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------10--8----------| E|-8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------10-11-13-11-10-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------10-11-13----------------13-11-10----------------------------------| G|---------------------------10-12----------------------------------12-10----------------------------| D|------------------10-12-13----------------------------------------------13-12-10-------------------| A|---------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10----------| E|10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10-|
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