Blues Rock on Interactive Chord Finder

A Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A Mixolydian is the bread and butter of blues-rock guitar. Built on the 5th degree of D major, it shares those same notes but treats A as home. The open A string on guitar provides a natural drone, and the dominant 7th tonic (A7) is one of the most played chords in blues history. If you have ever bent a note over an A7 shuffle, you have been playing in A Mixolydian.

G Mixolydian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

G Mixolydian is the mode most guitarists play without even knowing it. Built on the 5th degree of C major, it contains the same notes as C major but treats G as home. The result is a sound that is brighter than minor but more relaxed than major — a bluesy, laid-back quality that has powered countless rock, blues, and folk songs. The single difference from G major is the ♭7: F natural instead of F♯.

E Dorian Scale: Notes, Chords, and How to Play It

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

E Dorian is a natural fit on the guitar — the open low E string provides a ready-made drone, and the two sharps (F♯ and C♯) sit comfortably under the fingers in standard tuning. Built on the 2nd degree of D major, E Dorian delivers a minor sound with the characteristic Dorian brightness, making it a staple of blues-rock, funk, and fusion guitar playing.

What Makes Dorian Different?

The Dorian mode is built on the 2nd degree of a major scale. E Dorian uses the notes of D major starting and ending on E. Compared to E natural minor (E Aeolian), the only difference is the raised 6th degree — C♯ instead of C natural. That single note lifts the mood from pure minor to something more colourful and expressive.