What Is A Mixolydian Scale?

In addition to the Pentatonic scales, there is another very useful scale that is used all the time in Country music – the Mixolydian scale.

The Mixolydian scale is one of the 7 modes found on the 5th scale degree of any major scale.

There is a better way to think of this scale though.

All you have to do is lower the 7th scale degree of any major scale. This one altered note creates the Mixolydian scale or mode. Let’s take a closer look:

G Major scale:

G A B C D E F#

G Mixolydian:

G A B C D E F

You can see from the comparison above that the only difference is the “F” natural. It’s lowered a half step from the “F# ”.

Closer examination will reveal that the G Mixolydian scale is nothing more than a C major scale starting from “G” or the 5th note of C major.

Therefore, you can always use a C major scale when you need a G Mixolydian. If we take this one step further, you can play the relative minor of C major which is “A minor”.

If you know your major, minor and mixolydian patterns well enough, you can mix
them together to cover the whole fingerboard!

The application for this scale is for any Dominant 7 chord. For example, if you need to solo over a G7 chord – use a G Mixolydian scale.

Below are some popular patterns of the Mixolydian scale to use in your soloing:

Open Zone:

E |------------------------------------------0--1--3--|
B |--------------------—----------0--1--3-------------|
G |-------------------------0--2----------------------|
D |---------------0--2--3-----------------------------|
A |-----0--2--3---------------------------------------|
E |--3------------------------------------------------|

6th String Form:

E |-------------------------------------------------3--|
B |--------------------—-----------------3--5--6-------|
G |-----------------------------2--4--5----------------|
D |-------------------2--3--5--------------------------|
A |---------2--3--5------------------------------------|
E |--3--5----------------------------------------------|

5th String Form:

E |----------------------------------------------------10--12--13|
B |--------------------—---------------10--12--13----------------|
G |------------------------9--10--12-----------------------------|
D |-----------9--10--12------------------------------------------|
A |--10--12------------------------------------------------------|
E |--------------------------------------------------------------|

Want To Learn More …

In my experience with guitarist I found a lot of newer players assume that learning how to play country guitar is much easier than other types.

Reality is that this couldn’t be further from the truth. It actually requires a lot of practice and dedication to get to a level to play comfortably.

If you sit and listen to some real country songs you may be able to hear difficult picking patterns that require a lot of skill to play.

Country is one genre of guitar that I like to tell students to really immerse themselves into all types of country music to get a real feeling or how the music should be played.