E Mixolydian Tres Cubano Scale
Tres Cubano scale — fretboard diagram
E Mixolydian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Mixolydian scale is the fifth mode of the major scale and the heart of rock and roll and blues. On Tres Cubano, it contains the notes E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D. 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 E Mixolydian are E7, F#m7, G#m7b5, AMaj7, Bm7, C#m7, DMaj7. 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: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D
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
E7 — F♯m7 — G♯m7♭5 — AMaj7 — Bm7 — C♯m7 — DMaj7
How to Play E Mixolydian on Tres Cubano
Begin by locating E on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Mixolydian scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The E Mixolydian scale contains 3 sharps (F#, G#, C#). Its relative minor is C# minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the E 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 E Mixolydian scale: E7 - AMaj7 - Bm7 - E7 (I-IV-V-I) or E7 - F#m7 - AMaj7 - Bm7 for a more stepwise movement.
Tres Cubano Tips
Practice the E Mixolydian scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed.
The E Mixolydian scale contains 7 notes (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Tres Cubano with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Mixolydian
The E 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.