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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.

E♯ABC♯D♯F♯G♯

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.

EADGBe135791215E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABD♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯

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

Notes in the C♯ Mixolydian ♭6 scale

DegreeNoteName
1C♯Tonic
2D♯Supertonic
3E♯Mediant
4F♯Subdominant
5G♯Dominant
♭6ASubmediant
♭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 ♭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
IC♯C♯7
ii°D♯°D♯ø7
iii°E♯°E♯ø7
ivF♯mF♯m(maj7)
vG♯mG♯m7
VI+A+A7♯5
VIIBB7

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♯°, F♯m, G♯m, A+, B.

More C♯ scales

C♯ Major, C♯ Natural Minor, C♯ Harmonic Minor, C♯ Melodic Minor, C♯ Dorian, C♯ Phrygian, C♯ Mixolydian, C♯ Locrian, C♯ Major Pentatonic, C♯ Minor Pentatonic, C♯ Blues, C♯ Altered, C♯ Dorian ♭2, 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.