F# Mixolydian Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
F# Mixolydian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The F# Mixolydian scale is the fifth mode of the major scale and the heart of rock and roll and blues. On Guitar, it contains the notes F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E. 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 F# Mixolydian are F#7, G#m7, A#m7b5, BMaj7, C#m7, D#m7, EMaj7. 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: F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E
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
F♯7 — G♯m7 — A♯m7♭5 — BMaj7 — C♯m7 — D♯m7 — EMaj7
How to Play F# Mixolydian on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 2 on the 6th (low E) to find your F# root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is 9th fret on the A string.
The F# Mixolydian scale contains 5 sharps (F#, G#, A#, C#, D#). Its relative minor is D# minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the F# Mixolydian scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Try these progressions with the F# Mixolydian scale: F#7 - BMaj7 - C#m7 - F#7 (I-IV-V-I) or F#7 - G#m7 - BMaj7 - C#m7 for a more stepwise movement.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the F# Mixolydian scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The F# Mixolydian scale contains 7 notes (F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for F# Mixolydian
The F# 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.
Explore F# Mixolydian Further
- Harmonize the F# Mixolydian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- F# Mixolydian on Ukulele
- F# Mixolydian on Bass
- F# Mixolydian on Piano
Explore F# Mixolydian in Other Tunings
- F# Mixolydian in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- F# Mixolydian in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- F# Mixolydian in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- F# Mixolydian in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- F# Mixolydian in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- F# Mixolydian in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- F# Mixolydian in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- F# Mixolydian in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- F# Mixolydian in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- F# Mixolydian in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- F# Mixolydian in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- F# Mixolydian in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- F# Mixolydian in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- F# Mixolydian in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)