Musical Instruments

When you learn guitar scales, you become able to really spice up your lead guitar playing. Once you begin to learn guitar scales, you get beyond the “blues box” or just playing by ear (which is often not all that it’s made out to be). And one of the best guitar scales to learn is the Mixolydian Mode.

The Mixolydian Mode can be used with any of the 12 keys. Since the Mixolydian Mode is in reality a different way of playing the major scale, knowing it as well as the major scale, essentially doubles the number of scales that you have at your disposal. When you learn guitar scales, you learn that a scale is a set of seven notes that is defined by the root note. Now, for less than advanced guitar players, this means the note that you first play and the note that you last play when you play the scale. This note should also somehow be emphasized, such as by bending it or sustaining it for longer than the other notes that you hit for your lead break or solo.

If we look a little deeper, a mode can be more than just the first and last note of the scale. A mode contains a distinct set of intervals, and this actually defines the mode’s feel and sound, while the key that the mode is played in defines the exact notes contained.

The Mixolydian mode contains these notes: Root, major 2nd, major 3rd, major 4th, major 5th, major 6th, and flatted 7th. So, if this mode is played in the key of C major, the notes are: G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. The only difference between this mode and the G major scale, is that the major scale has an F sharp. This one note difference gives the Mixolydian mode a more “bluesy” sound by way of the flat 7th.

The “key” describes the central note or tone around which a piece of music is based. The mixolydian mode can be used to solo over the G major chords in the key of C or its relative minor : A minor. The mode can also be used to solo where G is the key in itself.

This mode is often used in rock music to give a solo a melodic, powerful, and bright feel. As an example; Slash, from the original line up of Guns n Roses used this mode for his first two solos in “Sweet Child O Mine”. Jazz guitar players often use the Mixolydian Mode to solo over a chord progression. This mode is applied to many different genres or styles of music.

When you learn guitar scales, have a look at the modes. They will help you create dazzling solos by adding more colour and diversity than the simple pentatonic scales. The Mixolydian Mode is a favourite of many guitarists.

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