G Mixolydian mode
G Mixolydian mode is G – A – B – C – D – E – F, all naturals. Formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. Play it, then slow the tempo until every note is clear.
Notes and steps
The step pattern is W W H W W H W (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between B–C and E–F.
| Degree | Note | Interval from G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | root | |
| 2 | A | major second | |
| 3 | B | major third | |
| 4 | C | perfect fourth | |
| 5 | D | perfect fifth | |
| 6 | E | major sixth | |
| ♭7 | F | minor seventh |
What G Mixolydian sounds like
Take G major and flatten the 7th to F: that's G Mixolydian. Lots of classic rock riffs and Celtic tunes live here.
The Mixolydian move is F to G, the major chord a whole step below home, the ♭VII that rock uses constantly.
Compared with G major scale, G Mixolydian mode has F where the other has F♯; the other six notes are shared. Hear G major scale and compare.
G Mixolydian mode uses the same seven notes as C major, starting from G instead of C. Same notes, different home note: what makes it Mixolydian is playing it over a G bass or chord.
Playing G Mixolydian
On the piano it uses only white keys.
The guitar box starts with the root at the 3rd fret of the low E string and spans frets 1–7: 16 notes, low string to high.
Chords built on each note
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get 7 chords. These are the chords that fit G Mixolydian mode; the ones that differ from the C major set are what give the mode its color. Tap to hear each one.
G Mixolydian mode shares all its notes with C major (starting on the 4th note, C), D Dorian (starting on the 5th note, D), E Phrygian (starting on the 6th note, E), F Lydian (starting on the 7th note, F), A natural minor (starting on the 2nd note, A) and B Locrian (starting on the 3rd note, B). Which one you hear depends on which note the music treats as home.
Moving it around the guitar
Find G first: fret 3 and 15 of the 6th string, fret 10 of the 5th. Most guitarists learn it in five overlapping positions; on the low E string they begin around frets 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12. Play a major scale, then drop the 7th a half step; that is Mixolydian, the sound of a dominant chord.
On the piano, G Mixolydian mode uses no black keys at all.
Thirds make the scale sound musical instead of step-by-step: G–B, A–C, B–D, C–E, D–F, E–G, F–A.
Practice patterns for G Mixolydian mode
Try these after the plain scale. Tap to hear each pattern at a steady speed, then play along.
- Groups of three: G A B · A B C · B C D · C D E · D E F · E F G.
- Target F: G F G F G: the ♭7 takes the pull out of major and makes it bluesy.
Scales to compare with G Mixolydian
Mixolydian mode in every key
G Mixolydian mode: questions
What are the notes of the G Mixolydian mode?
G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G. As degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.
How many sharps or flats are in the G Mixolydian mode?
None. Every note is a natural (white key on the piano).
What chords are in the G Mixolydian mode?
Stacking thirds on each note gives G (I), Am (ii), Bdim (iii°), C (IV), Dm (v), Em (vi) and F (VII).
What's the difference between G Mixolydian mode and G major scale?
F in G Mixolydian; F♯ in the other. Everything else is the same.
Which major scale has the same notes as G Mixolydian mode?
C major. G Mixolydian is C major played from its 5th note, G.
Every note on this page is computed from 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 and tested. Updated September 2026.