G Mixolydian mode on guitar
The G Mixolydian mode has seven notes: G, A, B, C, D, E and F (1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7). A major scale with a flat 7th: the sound of rock, blues-rock and country over a dominant 7 chord. It fits riffs built on I, ♭VII and IV, like A, G and D.
| Note | G | A | B | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | half | whole |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the G Mixolydian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; G (G) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (G) | Ghome | G7home |
| 2 (A) | Amrestless | Am7restless |
| 3 (B) | Bdimthe edge | Bm7♭5the edge |
| 4 (C) | Cthe door | Cmaj7the door |
| 5 (D) | Dmsoft fall | Dm7soft fall |
| 6 (E) | Emthe shadow | Em7the shadow |
| ♭7 (F) | Fheroic | Fmaj7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the C major scale, started from its fifth note, G.
Questions
What notes are in the G Mixolydian mode?
G, A, B, C, D, E and F. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7, and the steps between its notes are W W H W W H W (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the G Mixolydian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: G, Am, Bdim, C, Dm, Em and F, and as seventh chords G7, Am7, Bm7♭5, Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7 and Fmaj7. G is home: G is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Mixolydian mode in every key
Other scales in G
G majorG minorG minor pentatonicG major pentatonicG bluesG DorianG LydianG PhrygianG harmonic minorG melodic minorG Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.