Scale of the Month – February 2008 – A Mixolydian

Scale of the Month – February 2008 – A Mixolydian Scale

The Scale

There are many ways in which to play an A Mixolydian scale, but we’ll stick with the 5th fret box position used over the last few months (2 Octaves):

Ascending
E|-------------------------------------------------3--5--7-------------
B|---------------------------------------5--7--------------------------
G|-----------------------------4--6--7---------------------------------
D|-------------------4--5--7-------------------------------------------
A|---------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------
E|--5--7---------------------------------------------------------------

Descending
E|--7--5--3-------------------------------------------------------------
B|------------7--5------------------------------------------------------
G|-------------------7--6--4--------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------7--5--4----------------------------------
A|---------------------------------------7--5--4------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------7--5-----------------

The Theory

Mixolydian is the fifth major scale mode. The intervallic formula is 'WWHWWHW' (W Whole tone or 2 frets, H = Half tone or 1 fret). As compared to a major scale, Mixolydian has a flattened seventh scale degree – it is major in tonality, and being built on the fifth degree of the major scale, it works particularly well over dominant chords.

Mixolydian is popular in many genres, and is the foundation of much of the sleazy 80's rock we all know and love... AC/DCs 'Back in Black', Joe Satriani's 'The Extremist' and 'She Bangs the Drum' by the Stone Roses are all examples of the Mixolydian mode. He may not know it, but even B.B King often plays Mixolydian licks.

Full Access subscribers can find more on modal theory in this lesson set by Christopher Schlegel:

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=10741&s_id=370

Some Example licks (Tab symbol key below)

1) Legato:

E|---------------------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------8--7b8-7-p-5--------------------------------------
G|----------6-h-7-----------------7-p-6-------------------------------
D|--5-h-7---------------------------------7-p-5-----------------------
A|-------------------------------------------------7-p-5\4------------
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------

2) 3 notes per string – alternate pick or legato:

E|-----------------------------7-9-10/12-10-9-----------------------------------------------
B|-------------------7-8-10----------------------12--10--8--10--8--7-----------------------
G|----------6-7-9--------------------------------------------------------9--7--6------------
D|--5-7-9--------------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--7--
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) Bend up and break down:

E|-----------2------------5----------------------------------------------------------------
B|--------2-----5b7~~------7-p-5---------------------------------------------------------
G|--4b6------------------------------7-p-6------------------------------------------------
D|--------------------------------------------7--5-----------------------------------------
A|---------------------------------------------------7--5--3-------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------------5—3--5~~~~~~~~~-------

4) A Classic:

E|----------17---------------17----------------17----------------17---------21b23~~~-
B|--20b22----20-17-20b22----20-17-20b22----20-17-20b22-----20-17--------------------
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hammer ons: h.
Pull offs: p.
Vibrato: ~.
Bends: b.
Release bend: br.
Tap: t.
Slides: / or \ depending on direction.


Full Access Subscribers can access more lessons in the Mixolydian Mode at www.guitartricks.com – including:

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=9722
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=9450
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=3128
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=11132

Private Message me using the links above and tell me which scale should be Scale of the Month for March...

Hey nice post.

I have been practicing this scale on the 5th fret from day one (<2 months), it's nice to have some exercises that mix up the scale a bit. I'm getting a little bored of doing just forwards and backwards :)

Thanks Ren ;)