Skip to content
MusicTheoryGym

Scale · 7 notes

C Mixolydian ♭6 Scale

C Mixolydian ♭6 is a 7-note scale with the notes C D E F G A♭ B♭. It sounds the fifth mode of melodic minor: Mixolydian with a flat 6th, major and bluesy with a touch of minor, used over dominant chords that resolve to minor.

CDEFGA♭B♭

Purple = C (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every C mixolydian ♭6 note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EFGA♭B♭CDEFGB♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFGA♭B♭CDEFG

Blue = C (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the C Mixolydian ♭6 scale

DegreeNoteName
1CTonic
2DSupertonic
3EMediant
4FSubdominant
5GDominant
♭6A♭Submediant
♭7B♭Subtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C D E F G A♭ B♭.

C Mixolydian ♭6 scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – H – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.

Chords in the C Mixolydian ♭6 scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
ICC7
ii°D°Dø7
iii°E°Eø7
ivFmFm(maj7)
vGmGm7
VI+A♭+A♭7♯5
VIIB♭B♭7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the C Mixolydian ♭6 scale

Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the C Mixolydian ♭6 scale?

The notes of the C Mixolydian ♭6 scale are C D E F G A♭ B♭.

What is the formula for the C Mixolydian ♭6 scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – H – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.

What chords are in the C Mixolydian ♭6 scale?

Built from the scale in triads: C, D°, E°, Fm, Gm, A♭+, B♭.

More C scales

C Major, C Natural Minor, C Harmonic Minor, C Melodic Minor, C Dorian, C Phrygian, C Lydian, C Mixolydian, C Locrian, C Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, C Blues, C Lydian Dominant, C Altered, C Whole Tone, C Dorian ♭2, C Lydian Augmented, C Locrian ♯2, C Phrygian Dominant, C Hungarian Minor, C Double Harmonic, C Diminished (W–H), C Diminished (H–W), C Bebop Dominant, C Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.