G♯ Mixolydian

Bluesy, dominant, rock — built from C♯ major

PARENT FAMILY · C♯ MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (C♯ major). G♯ Mixolydian is the V mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	C♯ Ionian	C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 – G♯7 – A♯m7 – Cm7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	D♯ Dorian	D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 – G♯7 – A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	F Phrygian	Fm7 – G♭maj7 – A♭7 – B♭m7 – Cm7♭5 – D♭maj7 – E♭m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	F♯ Lydian	F♯maj7 – G♯7 – A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	G♯ Mixolydian	G♯7 – A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	A♯ Aeolian	A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 – G♯7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	C Locrian	Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 – G♯7 – A♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

G♯ A♯ C C♯ D♯ F F♯

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

The Mixolydian scale on G♯ contains the notes G♯, A♯, C, C♯, D♯, F, F♯. The pentatonic subset is G♯, A♯, C, D♯, F.

Characteristic note: the ♭7 (flat seventh) gives it a bluesy, dominant feel.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

G♯7

II

A♯m7

III

Cm7♭5

IV

C♯maj7

V

D♯m7

VI

Fm7

VII

F♯maj7

▸ Play G♯ Mixolydian over G♯7 and G♯7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

G♯ Mixolydian is a major mode with a bluesy, dominant, rock character. It is the V mode of C♯ major — it uses the same 7 notes as C♯ Ionian but is rooted on G♯, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is G♯7.

Where to use G♯ Mixolydian

Blues, rock, country, funk.

Famous examples

Norwegian Wood (Beatles)
Sweet Home Chicago
Gimme Shelter

What makes it distinctive: the ♭7 (flat seventh) gives it a bluesy, dominant feel.

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