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Scale · 7 notes

C♯ Mixolydian Scale

C♯ Mixolydian is a 7-note scale with the notes C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B. It sounds major with a flattened 7th, bluesy and relaxed, the sound of rock and dominant chords.

E♯BC♯D♯F♯G♯A♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215E♯F♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯F♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯A♯BD♯E♯F♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯A♯BC♯E♯F♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯F♯

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

Notes in the C♯ Mixolydian scale

DegreeNoteName
1C♯Tonic
2D♯Supertonic
3E♯Mediant
4F♯Subdominant
5G♯Dominant
6A♯Submediant
♭7BSubtonic

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 scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – H – W – W – H – 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 scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IC♯C♯7
iiD♯mD♯m7
iii°E♯°E♯ø7
IVF♯F♯maj7
vG♯mG♯m7
viA♯mA♯m7
VIIBBmaj7

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

Related scales

  • Parent major scale: F♯ Major, which has exactly the same notes as C♯ Mixolydian.

How to practise the C♯ Mixolydian scale

Learn each mode by its characteristic note: the one that makes it different from the major or minor scale it most resembles. Play a drone on the tonic while you play the scale to hear its colour.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the C♯ Mixolydian scale?

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

What is the formula for the C♯ Mixolydian scale?

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

What chords are in the C♯ Mixolydian scale?

Built from the scale in triads: C♯, D♯m, E♯°, F♯, G♯m, A♯m, B.

More C♯ scales

C♯ Major, C♯ Natural Minor, C♯ Harmonic Minor, C♯ Melodic Minor, C♯ Dorian, C♯ Phrygian, C♯ Locrian, C♯ Major Pentatonic, C♯ Minor Pentatonic, C♯ Blues, C♯ Altered, C♯ Dorian ♭2, C♯ Mixolydian ♭6, C♯ Locrian ♯2, C♯ Phrygian Dominant, C♯ Double Harmonic, C♯ Diminished (W–H), 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.