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