G Mixolydian Scale

72 scales in every key on a map of the whole neck: positions, patterns, and every note played as it lights up.

The G Mixolydian scale has 7 notes: G – A – B – C – D – E – F. Mixolydian is the major scale with a ♭7. It is the scale of the dominant 7th chord and of rock: a major sound with a bluesy edge. In Indian music it is Khamaj thaat.

Compared with the G major scale it has ♭7 (F instead of F♯).

The explorer above is set to G Mixolydian: the whole neck is mapped, and you can zoom into any of its 7 positions, change the labels to degrees or fingers, and hear it up, down and in patterns.

G Mixolydian scale notes

Degree	Note	Interval from G	Frets above the root	Sargam
1	G	R	0	S
2	A	M2	2	R
3	B	M3	4	G
4	C	P4	5	M
5	D	P5	7	P
6	E	M6	9	D
♭7	F	m7	10	n

Steps between the notes: W W H W W H W (W = two frets, H = one fret). Start on any G and follow those steps up one string to play the scale.

G Mixolydian scale positions on the guitar

With three notes on every string, G Mixolydian has seven patterns that climb the neck. Position 1 starts on G on the low E string at fret 3; each next position starts on the next note of the scale. In standard tuning, high string first:

Position	E (1st)	B	G	D	A	E (6th)
Position 1 frets 3–8	5 7 8	5 6 8	4 5 7	3 5 7	3 5 7	3 5 7
Position 2 frets 5–10	7 8 10	6 8 10	5 7 9	5 7 9	5 7 8	5 7 8
Position 3 frets 7–12	8 10 12	8 10 12	7 9 10	7 9 10	7 8 10	7 8 10
Position 4 frets 8–13	10 12 13	10 12 13	9 10 12	9 10 12	8 10 12	8 10 12
Position 5 frets 10–15	12 13 15	12 13 15	10 12 14	10 12 14	10 12 14	10 12 13
Position 6 frets 12–17	13 15 17	13 15 17	12 14 16	12 14 15	12 14 15	12 13 15
Position 7 frets 13–19	15 17 19	15 17 18	14 16 17	14 15 17	14 15 17	13 15 17

Chords in the G Mixolydian scale

Stacking every other note of the scale on each degree gives these chords. They are the chords a song in G Mixolydian is made from, and the chords this scale fits over.

	I	ii	iii°	IV	v	vi	♭VII
Triad	G	Am	Bdim	C	Dm	Em	F
7th chord	G7	Am7	Bm7♭5	Cmaj7	Dm7	Em7	Fmaj7

Where you hear it

G Mixolydian is used in rock, blues, funk, country and folk. It sounds best over dominant 7th and 9th chords, and I – ♭VII – IV rock progressions.

Backing tracks to practise G Mixolydian

G blues shuffle G slow blues G major pop G major ballad G jazz ii – V – I G Mixolydian rock

How to practise it

Play position 1 (frets 3–8) slowly, up and down, saying the note names.
Play it with the pattern set to In 3s, then In 4s, at a tempo where every note is clean.
Learn position 2 and how it joins position 1: the notes they share are where your hand moves.
Switch the labels to degrees and find every G (1) in each position.
Improvise over a backing track, ending your phrases on G.