What Is A Mixolydian Scale

The major scale can have many variations and one of the most popular is the Mixolydian mode or scale.

This is simply a major scale with a lowered 7th scale degree, which gives the scale a unique color.

The chord that the Mixolydian scale is closely associated with is the dominant colored chords i.e. dom7, dom9, dom13. It’s also used in many styles of music.

The whole/half step pattern for the Mixolydian scale is: W W H W W H W

Below you’ll find 6 patterns for the Mixolydian scale. Three are located on the 6th string and three are located on the 5th string.

These forms will allow you to visualize what notes work together in any given key across the entire range of the fingerboard.

Sixth String Forms

4th finger form:

E |-----------------------------------------1--2--4--|
B |-------------------------------1--2--4------------|
G |-------------------------1--3---------------------|
D |---------------2--4--5----------------------------|
A |-----2--4--5--------------------------------------|
E |--5-----------------------------------------------|

2nd finger form:

E |------------------------------------------------5-|
B |--------------------------------------5--7--8-----|
G |----------------------------4--6--7---------------|
D |------------------4--5--7-------------------------|
A |--------4--5--7-----------------------------------|
E |--5--7--------------------------------------------|

1st finger form:

E |----------------------------------------------------|
B |------------------------------------------7--8--10--|
G |--------------------------------6--7--9-------------|
D |----------------------5--7--9-----------------------|
A |------------5--7--9---------------------------------|
E |--5--7--9-------------------------------------------|

Fifth String Forms

4th finger form:

E |-------------------------------------------9--10--12--|
B |---------------------------------10--12---------------|
G |--------------------9--11--12-------------------------|
D |-------9--11--12--------------------------------------|
A |--12--------------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------------|

2nd finger form:

E |--------------------------------------------------------12--14--15--|
B |-----------------------------------------12--14--15-----------------|
G |--------------------------11--12--14--------------------------------|
D |------------11--12--14----------------------------------------------|
A |--12--14------------------------------------------------------------|
E |--------------------------------------------------------------------|

1st finger form:

E |------------------------------------------------------------14--15--17--|
B |---------------------------------------------14--15--17-----------------|
G |------------------------------12--14--16--------------------------------|
D |----------------12--14--16----------------------------------------------|
A |--12--14--16------------------------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Want To Learn More …

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Sounds quite complex and difficult just to begin with and you haven’t even started learning it yet.

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That is why we created a course that is tailored to this exact topic.