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	Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	D Dorian	Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	E Phrygian	Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	F Lydian	Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	G Mixolydian	G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	A Aeolian	Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	B Locrian	Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

G A B C D E F

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

G7

II

Am7

III

Bm7♭5

IV

Cmaj7

V

Dm7

VI

Em7

VII

Fmaj7

▸ Play G Mixolydian over G7 and G7 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 G7.

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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