Mixolydian Modal Scale

Mixolydian modal scale is a basic major scale with a lowered 7th of the scale. The C7 Mixolydian scale is made up of these following notes: C D E F G A Bb C. Bb is the lowered 7th of the scale of C, the tritone is found between E and Bb notes.

This scale is normally used over Dominant 7th chord, which normally resolve to the Root chord, ex G7 to CMaj. There is a tritone in this scale, an it happens on the 3rd and b7 of the G7 chord. This tritone of B and F, causes a desire for the tritone to resolve to the Root of the chord.

Forming Triads from the Mixolydian Modal Scale:

Forming Triads from the Mixolydian Scale

In the 1st measure the C7 mixolydian modal scale, is written out for you. The triads are C Edim Gm Bb Dm F Am.

we are also able to form block chords from this scale, CMaj7 Emi7 Gm7 BbMaj7 Dm7 FMaj7 and Am7.

As guitar players the best way to get more tensions into a chord is to apply the basic triads of the scale of the moment. In this scenario the mixolydian diatonic triads can be added to the basic C7 chord to form more extensions ex Dm/C7, Gm/C7 and many more interesting tensions can be formed by combining the triads that matches the melody. Remember that Dominant chords like:

1.Dominant 7 G7

2.Dominant 9 G7,9

3.Dominant 11 G11

4.Dominant 13 G13

All of the above chords use the Mixolydian modal scale.Now that we have covered the basic chords from the C7 mixolydian modal scale we will now move over to form the scales and its various positions on the fret-board.

Mixolydian Scale, 7 Positions

Mixolydian Modal Scale, 7 Positions

Pattern 1 and Pattern 7 have both the same notes and are an octave part, and the fingerings are the same.

Ptn1 starting at the 1st pos at the top of the neck, beginning with the 6th string we have the notes E, F and G , then followed by the 5th open string A, Bb and C, then the 4th 0pen string D, E and F, then the 3rd open string G A Bb, then the 2nd string 1st fret, C and D, then the 1st open string E F and G and this shows us all the notes in the 1st position.

Ptn2 starts on the 6th string, 3rd pos, 3rd fret G note, followed by the A and Bb notes on the same string. then moves to the 5th string, 3rd fret C, D and E notes.Down to the 4th string, 3rd fret for F, G and A notes, moves to the 3rd string for Bb, C and D notes, moves to the 2nd string 5th fret for E, F and G notes then to the 1st string 5th fret for A Bb and C notes.

Ptn3 starts on the 6th string, 5th pos, 5th fret A, Bb C, moves to the 5th string 5th fret D, E and F, 4th string 5th fret G, A and Bb, moves to the 3rd string 5th position for C, D and E, then to 2nd string, 6th fret for F, G and A, then to the 1st string 6th fret for Bb, C and D.

Ptn4 of mixolydian modal scale starts on the 6th string, 6th pos and we have Bb, C and D, on the 5th string 7th fret, we have E, F and G, on the 4th string, 7th fret there is a Bb, C and D.on the 3rd string, 7th fret there is a D, E and F, on the 2nd string, 8th fret, there is a G, A and Bb, on the 1st string, 8th fret we have a C, D and E

Ptn5starts on the 6th string, 8th position, there is a C, D and E, down to the 5th string, 8th position for F, G and A, then to the 4th string, 8th froth, Bb , C and D, 3rd string, 9th fret for E, F and G, then 2nd string, then 2nd string 10th fret for A, Bb and C, then to the 1st string, 10th fret, for D E and F.

Ptn6 starting on the 6th string, 10th fret for D, E and F, then to the 5th string 10th fret, G, A and Bb, to 3rd string, 10th fret, for F , G and A, then to the 2nd string, 11th fret, for A, Bb and C, then the 1st string 12th fret for E, F and G.

Ptn7 of the mixolydian modal scaleis the same as ptn1, it begins on the 12th fret, E, F and G, then 5th string 12th fret, A, Bb and C, then 4th string, 12th fret, for D,E and F, then 3rd string, 12th fret, for G, A and Bb, then 2nd string, 13th fret for C, D and E, then 1st string, 13th fret, for F, G and A

We now have all the 7 positions of the Mixolydian Modal Scale. Practice these patterns across the fret-board, when playing over chordf changes like C7, G7 A7, You could start to play the patterns on any position that fits the chord. Try to get the patterns as close to one another, as it makes soloing the changes much easier.

Now that we have learnt the Mixolydian scale, try playing over these changes.

| C7 | Bb7 | Ab7 | Db7 | E7 | A7 |

D7 | G7 ||

Remember that the above chords are Dominant chords and you would use the Mixolydian modal scale over all these changes.

For C7 use F scale = F G A Bb C D E F

For Bb7 use = Eb Scale

For Ab7 use = Db scale

For Db7 use = Gb scale

For E7 use = A sacle

For A7 use = D scale

For D7 use = G scale

For G7 use = C scale

The mixolydian modal scale is an interesting scale and worth to spend time with it, you will always have the Dominant chord in every song. When you are in a minor chord the dominant chord uses different types of scales.

Well we shall move to the next lesson on the

Locrain Modal Scale

Locrain Modal Scale

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