Mixolydian scale · 7 notes
F♯ Mixolydian scale on guitar
The F♯ Mixolydian scale (F sharp Mixolydian scale) has 7 notes: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯ and E. A major scale with a ♭7: the bluesy-but-major sound of classic rock. You may also see it written as G♭ Mixolydian, but F♯ is the usual spelling because it needs fewer accidentals.
Notes
- F♯
- G♯
- A♯
- B
- C♯
- D♯
- E
Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Steps
W – W – H – W – W – H – W
Sound
Major, bluesy and laid-back
F♯ Mixolydian on the whole fretboard
Every F♯ Mixolydian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, F♯, is shown in red so you can always find home.
A shape to learn first
You don’t need the whole neck at once. This hand position is anchored on a root note on the 6th (low E) string, which is how most guitarists find a scale in any key.
Root on the 6th (low E) string
F♯ at fret 2. 1st position: frets 1–5.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of F♯ Mixolydian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from F♯, the F♯ Mixolydian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 5 sharps (F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯ and D♯). Compared with F♯ major, it has E (♭7) instead of E♯.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯ | root | 0 |
| 2 | G♯ | major 2nd | 2 |
| 3 | A♯ | major 3rd | 4 |
| 4 | B | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | C♯ | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | D♯ | major 6th | 9 |
| ♭7 | E | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in F♯ Mixolydian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to F♯ Mixolydian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in F♯ Mixolydian.
- IF♯F♯ · A♯ · C♯F♯7
- iiG♯mG♯ · B · D♯G♯m7
- iii°A♯°A♯ · C♯ · EA♯m7♭5
- IVBB · D♯ · F♯Bmaj7
- vC♯mC♯ · E · G♯C♯m7
- viD♯mD♯ · F♯ · A♯D♯m7
- ♭VIIEE · G♯ · BEmaj7
Progressions to try
- F♯ – E – B I–♭VII–IV · classic rock
- F♯ – E I–♭VII
- F♯ – C♯m – E – B I–v–♭VII–IV
How to use F♯ Mixolydian
Reach for it over dominant 7th chords, classic rock, jam bands, country and blues in a major feel. Its sound is major, bluesy and laid-back.
Tip: Mixolydian = major pentatonic + the 4th + the ♭7. Use it over a dominant 7th chord for a sound between major and blues.
- F♯ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of B major, played from its fifth note, F♯. See B major.
Where to find F♯ on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every F♯ between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with F♯ |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 2 |
| B (2nd) | 7 |
| G (3rd) | 11 |
| D (4th) | 4 |
| A (5th) | 9 |
| Low E (6th) | 2 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as F♯ Mixolydian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
F♯ Mixolydian scale FAQ
What notes are in the F♯ Mixolydian scale?
The F♯ Mixolydian scale has 7 notes: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯ and E. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. It contains 5 sharps (F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯ and D♯).
What chords are in F♯ Mixolydian?
Harmonising the F♯ Mixolydian scale in thirds gives F♯ (I), G♯m (ii), A♯° (iii°), B (IV), C♯m (v), D♯m (vi) and E (♭VII).
Where do you play the F♯ Mixolydian scale on guitar?
The root, F♯, is at fret 2 on the low E string and fret 9 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 1–5, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as F♯ Mixolydian?
F♯ Mixolydian contains exactly the notes of B major, played from its fifth note, F♯.