G Flat Mixolydian Mode on the Guitar – 5 CAGED Positions, Tabs and Theory

‘G flat mixolydian’ is the 5th mode of the Cb Major scale. The notes in Gb Mixolydian are:

Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb

If you have read the post on understanding the mixolydian mode, you will know that the mixolydian mode contains a ‘flat 7’ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 5th mode of the major scale (derivative approach).

Because the flat 7′ (or ‘lowered 7’) is the only difference between the mixolydian mode and the major scale, it is a very simple mode to analyze.

The Gb mixolydian mode is the default scale that is used to improvise over Gb dominant 7 chords.

Let’s briefly look at how to construct Gb mixolydian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Gb Mixolydian Mode Using The Parallel Approach

Gb Major has the following notes:

Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – F

If we ‘lower’ the 7th note, we get the following:

Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb

Gb Mixolydian Mode Using The Derivative Approach

Gb is the 5th note of the Cb major scale:

Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bb

If we play the Gb major scale and start on the 5th note we get the following:

Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb

Let’s look at the Gb mixolydian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:

Gb Mixolydian in the Open Position

Firstly, let’s look at the open position:

Gb Mixolydian CAGED Positions

Now let’s look at Gb mixolydian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.

Gb Mixolydian 3rd Position (Lowest Fret is 3)

Gb Mixolydian 6th Position (Lowest Fret is 6)

Gb Mixolydian 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)

Gb Mixolydian 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)

Gb Mixolydian 12th Position (Lowest Fret is 12)

That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of Gb mixolydian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the mixolydian mode, check out mixolydian mode explained.

Further Reading

• Gb7 chord (Gb mixolydian works well over this chord).
• Gb7 arpeggio (Gb mixolydian is a great companion to the Gb dominant 7 arpeggio).
• Cb Major scale contains the mode of Gb mixolydian.