The Mixo-blues Scale | Mixolydian Blues scale | Mixo Dorian scale | Guitar Shapes & licks

The mixo-blues scale can be confusing because of its different names. Indeed, it is also be called Mixolydian blues scale or mixo-Dorian blues scale or mixolydian or blues hybrid scale.

This guitar lesson with formula charts, shapes and exercise explain how to build and play it.

SUMMARY

Construction

One Octave Shapes

Two octave Shapes

Mixo Blues Lick And Dominant 7 Voice Leading

George Benson Lick

Formula Chart

The Mixo-blues scale is a combination of the minor blues scale (1 - b3 - 4 - b5 - 5 - b7) and the Mixolydian mode 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - b7.

It belongs to the "hybrid scales family".

The result of this mix is a nonatonic scale containing nine notes.

Here is the formula 1 - 2 (9) - b10 (or #9 or b3) - 3 - 11(4) -b5(#11) - 5 - 13(6) - b7.

C mixo blues scale	C	D	Eb	E	F	F#	G	A	Bb
Formula	1	2 (9)	b10 (b3 or #9)	3	4 (11)	b5 (#11)	5	6 (13)	b7
Intervals	W	H	H	H	H	H	W	H	W

W= whole step - H=Half step

Notice that the b10 is the same note as the minor third (b3), theoretically we cannot have two thirds, that's why it is better to call it b10 (also considered as a raised ninth (#9).

There are some possible extensions in it, the ninth (9), the raised ninth (#9), the eleventh (11), the raised eleventh (#11) and the thirteenth (13).

That means you can play the mixoblues scale over the following dominant 7th chords (example given in C) :

C7, C9, C#9, C11, C#11, C7b5, C13.

The Mixolydian blues scale is a nice choice for coloring basic Mixolydian lines.

An effective solution when you want to add a bluesy touch and spice up your playing over any dominant seventh chord.

One Octave Shapes

Here are four mixoblues scale guitar positions.

The first shap has tonic on the sixth and fourth string.

The second form has tonic on the fifth and third string.

The third diagram has tonic on the fourth and second string.

The last one has tonic on the third and first string.

Two Octave Shapes

The following diagrams show how to play the Mixo-blues scale spanning two octaves.

It is important to identify where the tonics are placed on the guitar neck. Indeed, they have a crucial function, they give its name to the scale.

So, don't hesitate to play these shapes in all twelve keys, anywhere on the guitar neck.

Dominant Chords And Mixo Blues Lines

You'll find here a link to the free PDF transcription of the video about voice leading with dominant chords proposed at the top of the lesson.

George Benson - Mixoblues Lick

This example shows how George Benson used the Mixolydian blues scale.

This lick is a transcription of his solo in "Last train to Clarksville" a cover of the Monkees. You can notice that the G mixoblues scale is played over a G7 chord.

There are no particular difficulties in this line, except perhaps the choice of the fingering.

Once you have learned this line, you must be able to play it in any key and make it evolve by adding notes that you hear or that you feel.

The aim of learning licks like this George Benson's riff is to be able to replace them in your guitar improvisations. Not necessarily note-by-note but that the general idea comes out naturally in your playing.

G mixo blues scale	G	A	Bb	B	C	C#	D	E	F
Formula	1	9	b3 or #9	3	11	b5 (#11)	5	13	b7
Intervals	W	H	H	H	HH	H	W	H	W

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Last edited: 2024-09-07

Comments

- 1. melanie Fredricks On 2024-09-07
Love this, I play it since a long time but didn't know it was called mixo-blues scale.
Love your books.
Thanks a lot.
- - jazz-guitar-licksOn 2024-09-07
  Thanks