G Mixolydian Scale

Q: What is the Mixolydian scale?

Mixolydian is a sequence of notes built on a specific interval formula. Each scale has a characteristic sound: major sounds bright, minor sounds melancholic, exotic scales sound sharp or mysterious.

Q: How do I play the Mixolydian scale on guitar?

Choose a root note on the fretboard and follow the position diagram above. Start slowly, practising each position ascending and descending. Use a metronome and gradually increase the BPM.

Q: What music styles use the Mixolydian scale?

Each scale has its own character and genre associations. See the theory block on this page: it lists characteristic styles and famous song examples.

Q: How do I transpose the Mixolydian scale to another key?

Use the root selector at the top of the page — all positions automatically adjust to the chosen root. The fingering patterns stay the same; only the starting fret changes.

Q: What is the difference between scales and modes?

A scale is a set of notes. A mode is a scale viewed from a specific degree. For example, C major and D Dorian contain the same notes but start from different degrees and sound different.

Major with a flat seventh. Foundational for blues and classic rock.

How to play the scale

Notes

Direction

Музыкальный контекст

АккордG MajorТрезвучие

АрпеджиоG Major arpeggioТрезвучие

ГаммаG mixolydian7 нот

ТональностьG MajorМажорная тональность

ПрогрессияPop progressionПоп-прогрессия

Показывает, как текущий элемент связан с ладом, тональностью и используется в музыке.

Theory

General info

Name: G Mixolydian mode
Type: Major
Note count: 7
Description: Major with a flat seventh. Foundational for blues and classic rock.

Notes & degrees

Degrees, notes & intervals: 1Groot
2Amajor 2nd
3Bmajor 3rd
4Cperfect 4th
5Dperfect 5th
6Emajor 6th
7Fminor 7th

Interval formula: G2 stA2 stB1 stC2 stD2 stE1 stF
Brief explanation: G Mixolydian mode follows the pattern W – W – H – W – W – H – W from root G. It is a 7-note mode with a major character.

How it sounds

Character: major foundation with a bluesy, relaxed tint
minor seventh softens the strictness of pure major
natural rock & roll and country sound
Characteristic interval: Minor 7thm7 · 10 st
Description: The minor seventh (10 semitones) adds a bluesy, rock & roll edge to the major sound.
Where recognized: V degree of major
Blues, rock & roll, country
Dominant seventh chords (V7)

🎹 G Mixolydian scale on piano →

Chords by degreeG Mixolydian

IGmajG B DTonic iiAmminA C E iii°BdimdimB D F IVCmajC E GSubdominant vDmminD F ADominant viEmminE G B VIIFmajF A C

Harmonic context

Natural on dominant chords (V7). Foundation of blues and rock & roll sound.

Tendencies & resolutions

Pillar degrees: 1G(Соль)root
3B(Си)major 3rd
5D(Ре)perfect 5th
Characteristic degrees: 7F(Фа)lowered 7th degree
Tendencies & resolutions: 7FF
1GG
subtonic tends toward the tonic (whole step down) — soft tendency
4CC
3BB
4th degree resolves down to the major 3rd
2AA
1GG
2nd degree tends down to the tonic
6EE
5DD
6th degree tends down to the 5th

Connections & usage

Compatible chords

Chords whose notes all belong to this scale. Suitable for accompaniment and harmonization.

CC Major Cmaj7C Major 7 Csus2C Sus2 Csus4C Sus4 C5C Power chord C6C 6th C6/9C 6/9 Cmaj9C Major 9

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Cadd9C Add9 Cmaj11C Major 11 Cmaj13C Major 13 Cadd11C Add11 C6sus4C 6sus4

DmD Minor Dm7D Minor 7 Dsus2D Sus2 Dsus4D Sus4 D7sus4D 7sus4 D5D Power chord Dm6D Minor 6 Dm6/9D Minor 6/9

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Dm9D Minor 9 Dmadd9D Minor Add9 Dm11D Minor 11 D9sus4D 9sus4 Dm13D Minor 13 Dm(add11)D Minor Add11 D6sus4D 6sus4 D7sus2D 7sus2

EmE Minor Em7E Minor 7 Esus4E Sus4 E7sus4E 7sus4 E5E Power chord Em(add11)E Minor Add11

FF Major Fmaj7F Major 7 Fsus2F Sus2 F5F Power chord F6F 6th F6/9F 6/9 Fmaj9F Major 9 Fadd9F Add9

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Fmaj13F Major 13 Fmaj7b5F Major 7b5 Fmaj7#11F Major 7#11

GG Major G7G Dominant 7 Gsus2G Sus2 Gsus4G Sus4 G7sus4G 7sus4 G5G Power chord G6G 6th G6/9G 6/9

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G9G 9th Gadd9G Add9 G11G 11th G13G 13th G9sus4G 9sus4 Gadd11G Add11 G6sus4G 6sus4 G7sus2G 7sus2

AmA Minor Am7A Minor 7 Asus2A Sus2 Asus4A Sus4 A7sus4A 7sus4 A5A Power chord Am9A Minor 9 Amadd9A Minor Add9

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Am11A Minor 11 A9sus4A 9sus4 Am(add11)A Minor Add11 A7sus2A 7sus2

BdimB Diminished Bm7b5B Half-dim 7

Circle of Fifths

Position of the key on the Circle of Fifths. Click a neighboring key to open the same scale in that key.

G major

Relative key: Em
Dominant: D
Subdominant: C
Key signature: 1#

Diatonic chords

IGmajorG B DTonic iiAmminorA C E iiiBmminorB D F# IVCmajorC E GSubdominant VDmajorD F# ADominant viEmminorE G B vii°F#dimdimF# A CLeading tone

Musical application

Genres

Blues, rock & roll, country, funk

In melody

Rock & roll melodies, blues phrases. Minor 7th adds grit to major.

In improvisation

Foundation for solos over dominant chords (V7). Blues rock, country, funk.

In harmonic thinking

Dominant vamps I7–bVII. Blues progressions I7–IV7–V7.

Musical context

Blues, rock & roll, country, funk. Chuck Berry, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin.

Play this scale

Practice positions and patterns on the interactive fretboard.

Open fretboard trainer

What to learn next

ScaleAeolian (natural minor)Next mode in the church mode system ModeDorianParallel mode — same notes, different character ScaleMajor pentatonicPentatonic — simplified version to start with ProgressionMixolydian rockProgression that works well with this mode

Compare all

Diatonic chords (C)

C (I)Dm (ii)Em (iii)F (IV)G (V)Am (vi)B° (vii°)

Fitting progressions

Mixolydian rock (I-bVII-IV)Classic I-IV-V (I-IV-V)12-bar blues (I7-I7-I7-I7-IV7-IV7-I7-I7-V7-IV7-I7-V7)

Other modes

Ionian (major)Dorian Phrygian Lydian

Recommended for you

What is the Mixolydian scale?

How do I play the Mixolydian scale on guitar?

What music styles use the Mixolydian scale?

How do I transpose the Mixolydian scale to another key?

What is the difference between scales and modes?