Mixolydian Mode on guitar

Mixolydian is the major scale with a flat seventh, the sound of rock, blues, funk and Celtic tunes over dominant chords.

Play A Mixolydian Mode on the fretboard in Guitar Upscale

About the Mixolydian Mode

Mixolydian is the fifth mode of the major scale. G Mixolydian has the notes of C major, played from G.

The flat 7th turns the root chord into a dominant 7th and takes away the strong pull of the major scale. Songs in it feel relaxed and bluesy.

"Sweet Home Alabama" and many Celtic fiddle tunes use it. Look for a major chord that moves to the major chord a whole step below, such as D to C.

Intervals from the root

Chords in A Mixolydian Mode

Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each note. These chords sound at home with the scale, so they make good progressions.

Same notes, another starting note

Start the A Mixolydian Mode scale on another of its notes and you get these scales:

• From degree 2 (B): B Natural Minor (Aeolian)
• From degree 3 (C#): C# Locrian Mode
• From degree 4 (D): D Major Scale (Ionian)
• From degree 5 (E): E Dorian Mode
• From degree 6 (F#): F# Phrygian Mode
• From degree b7 (G): G Lydian Mode

Mixolydian Mode in every key

More Major scales

• Major Scale (Ionian)
• Harmonic Major
• Major Pentatonic
• Dominant Pentatonic
• Lydian Mode
• Lydian Augmented