stringery

F mixolydian

Major with a flat 7th: rock, blues and folk. Dominant family

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position1 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 7th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. FRW
  2. G2W
  3. A3H
  4. B♭4W
  5. C5W
  6. D6H
  7. E♭♭7W

Lowering the 7th of the major scale by one fret removes its pull home, so the music relaxes instead of resolving.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckF mixolydian

12345EADGBE35791215R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456R23456♭7R2
12345EADGBE35791215R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456R23456♭7R2

Position 1 is outlined, frets 0 to 4. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The F mixolydian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. FI
  2. Gmii
  3. Adimiii°
  4. B♭IV
  5. Cmv
  6. Dmvi
  7. E♭VII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • B♭ major

    Same notes, but home is B♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • G minor

    Same notes, but home is G: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • C dorian

    Same notes, but home is C: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • E♭ lydian

    Same notes, but home is E♭: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • D phrygian

    Same notes, but home is D: dark, spanish, menacing.