stringery

G mixolydian

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

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position3 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. GRW
  2. A2W
  3. B3H
  4. C4W
  5. D5W
  6. E6H
  7. F♭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 neckG mixolydian

12345GCEA571012R23456♭7R456♭7R2346♭7R2345623456♭7R2
12345GCEA571012R23456♭7R456♭7R2346♭7R2345623456♭7R2

Position 3 is outlined, frets 7 to 10. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The G mixolydian key

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

  1. GI
  2. Amii
  3. Bdimiii°
  4. CIV
  5. Dmv
  6. Emvi
  7. FVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • C major

    Same notes, but home is C: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • A minor

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

  • D dorian

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

  • F lydian

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

  • E phrygian

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