G Mixolydian Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagram
G Mixolydian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The G Mixolydian scale is the fifth mode of the major scale and the heart of rock and roll and blues. On Bass, it contains the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, F. It combines the stability of a major sound with a more relaxed, folk-like ending, perfectly suited for soloing over dominant seventh chords and providing a bluesy, soulful vibe to major-key songs. The diatonic chords of G Mixolydian are G7, Am7, Bm7b5, CMaj7, Dm7, Em7, FMaj7. Commonly used in Blues, Rock, Country, Folk, Funk. Notable players include Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers, AC/DC, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Use over dominant 7th chords (7, 9, 13). The primary scale for blues-rock soloing over non-resolving dominant chords.
Notes: G, A, B, C, D, E, F
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: W-W-H-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: dominant
Diatonic Chords
G7 — Am7 — Bm7♭5 — CMaj7 — Dm7 — Em7 — FMaj7
How to Play G Mixolydian on Bass
On bass, locate G on the E string at fret 3. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The G Mixolydian scale uses no sharps or flats, consisting entirely of natural notes. Its relative minor is E minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the G Mixolydian scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (G-B, A-C) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Try these progressions with the G Mixolydian scale: G7 - CMaj7 - Dm7 - G7 (I-IV-V-I) or G7 - Am7 - CMaj7 - Dm7 for a more stepwise movement.
Bass Tips
Practice the G Mixolydian scale on bass using only your index and ring fingers for a two-finger-per-string approach, then switch to one-finger-per-fret. Both techniques are essential for different musical situations.
The G Mixolydian scale contains 7 notes (G, A, B, C, D, E, F). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for G Mixolydian
The G Mixolydian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.