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. F♯RW
  2. G♯2W
  3. A♯3H
  4. B4W
  5. C♯5W
  6. D♯6H
  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

12345EADGBE35791215♭7R23456♭7R3456♭7R2346♭7R23456♭723456♭7R23456♭7R2345♭7R23456♭7R
12345EADGBE35791215♭7R23456♭7R3456♭7R2346♭7R23456♭723456♭7R23456♭7R2345♭7R23456♭7R

Position 1 is outlined, frets 1 to 5. 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. F♯I
  2. G♯mii
  3. A♯dimiii°
  4. BIV
  5. C♯mv
  6. D♯mvi
  7. EVII

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.

  • E♭ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is E♭: dark, spanish, menacing.