G Mixolydian Scale on Piano

The G Mixolydian scale sounds bright but unresolved. It runs G – A – B – C – D – E – F and is written with no sharps or flats.

It shares its key signature with E minor, its relative minor.

Interval Circle

WWHWWHWC4C#D5D#E6Fb7F#G1G#A2A#B3

All twelve semitones, root at the top. Filled dots are the notes of the scale, the outer numbers are their degrees, and W / H mark the whole and half steps between them.

About This Scale

A major scale with a flattened 7th. Losing the leading tone removes the pull back to the tonic, so the scale can sit on a dominant chord indefinitely — the sound of blues-rock riffs and Celtic tunes.

Fingering

Right Hand (ascending)

1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5

Left Hand (ascending)

5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1

Why this fingering

This scale uses only white keys, so the thumb is free to fall anywhere. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto C; let the elbow drift slightly outward as it passes rather than twisting the wrist.

The blue dots on the piano below show which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Notes in G Mixolydian

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
GG4Root (1)15
AA4Major 2nd (2)24
BB4Major 3rd (3)33
CC5Perfect 4th (4)12
DD5Perfect 5th (5)21
EE5Major 6th (6)33
FF5Minor 7th (b7)42
GG5Octave (8)51

Other Mixolydian Scales

Other G Scales