F Mixolydian, Right Next to the Nut
This F Mixolydian scale reads F, G, A, Bb, C, D and Eb. It is the mode you reach by starting Bb major on its 5th degree, and the Eb is its flat 7th.
The root is the 1st fret of the low E string, so the lowest box is only a stretch away from the open position, and it appears again on the 8th fret of the A string. Slide the A Mixolydian shape down four frets and you have it. Then work out a scale exercise that sounds less mechanical.
Play the F mixolydian scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the F mixolydian scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | Root | 0 |
| G | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| A | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| Bb | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| C | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| D | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| Eb | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
F mixolydian scale notes:
How the mixolydian scale is built:
The mixolydian scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-W-H-W-W-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 5 of the Major Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Dominant Scale.
F Mixolydian Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (low E)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the F mixolydian scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the mixolydian scale, starting from a different degree.
The mixolydian scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
