The Mixolydian Scale

Lesson 2/43 | Study Time: 5 Min
Course: Funk and R&B Guitar Technique
The Mixolydian Scale

The Mixolydian Scale

Apart from the Blues scale, there are some other scales used in Funk. The first of these is the Mixolydian scale,or mode. Its degrees are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and b7. Here it is in the key of A, in the E form. (For more information on scales and modes in all their forms, see Progressive Scales and Modes for Guitar).

Work on the fingering until you can play it from memory. Make sure you are totally familiar with the positions of the key note (In this case A).

Here are some Funk riffs based on the mixolydian scale.

This one is a four bar pattern. Notice the use of harmony notes here.

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Peter Gelling and Dave Brewer

Peter Gelling and Dave Brewer

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Class Sessions

1- Major Chords 2- INTRODUCTION 3- LESSON FIFTEEN 4- LESSON SIXTEEN 5- New Sounds 6- LESSON EIGHTEEN 7- LESSON NINETEEN 8- 6ths 9- 3rds 10- Major Scales 11- Minor Chords 12- LESSON TWENTY FOUR 13- LESSON TWENTY FIVE 14- 4ths 15- Triplets 16- Chord Embellishment 17- More on 9th Chords 18- Swamp Sounds 19- A Final Solo 20- GLOSSARY OF MUSICAL TERMS 21- D Form 22- Percussive Strumming 23- LESSON TWO 24- LESSON THREE 25- The Rake 26- The Mixolydian Scale 27- D Form 28- LESSON SEVEN 29- Tritones 30- LESSON NINE 31- A New Solo 32- The Dorian Scale 33- LESSON THIRTEEN 34- Section 2 Summary 35- Octaves 36- 7sus Chords 37- The Trill 38- Tuning Your Guitar 39- Common Picking and Strumming Directions 40- Chord Diagrams 41- Fretboard Diagrams 42- Tablature 43- Tablature Symbols

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