Modes
G Mixolydian Mode on Piano
Think G major with a bluesy, unresolved edge — that is G Mixolydian. The single change from G major is lowering F# to F natural, and that one flat seventh gives the scale the rock-and-roll swagger that rock, funk, and country all depend on. On piano, it is the fifth mode of C major, played on the white keys starting from G.
Notes of the G Mixolydian Scale
| Degree | Note | Interval from root |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Root |
| 2 | A | Major 2nd |
| 3 | B | Major 3rd |
| 4 | C | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | E | Major 6th |
| 7 | F | Minor 7th |
| 8 | G | Octave |
W-W-H-W-W-H-WW · W · H · W · W · H · WMajor with a lowered 7th — the defining note is the flat 7 (F instead of F#).
G Mixolydian on the Staff
One octave ascending in treble clef with the key signature of C major (no sharps, no flats).
Fingering
A standard one-octave fingering for an all-white-key scale starting on G.
- 1G
- 2A
- 3B
- 1C
- 2D
- 3E
- 4F
- 5G
- 5G
- 4A
- 3B
- 2C
- 1D
- 3E
- 2F
- 1G
Numbers indicate fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little. Both rows are shown in ascending order (low note to high note). Note the left hand starts on the pinky (5) at the lowest note and crosses the middle finger over the thumb to continue upward — that is why the left-hand numbers count down before cycling again.
Diatonic Chords in G Mixolydian
The seven triads built on each scale degree — the harmonic backbone of any piece written in this key.
Where You Hear This Scale
Mixolydian is the sound of the dominant 7th chord stretched into a whole scale. You hear it in Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama, countless Grateful Dead jams, and in almost every Irish hornpipe. The flat 7 keeps the music from fully resolving, which is exactly why it feels so perfect for riffs and grooves that want to keep moving.
Train Your Ear to Recognize This Scale
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