ArpeggiosEN

Scale quality

mixolydian

Mixolydian is the fifth degree of the major scale: the major pattern with a flattened seventh. That flat seventh turns the leading tone into a relaxed whole-step below the root, so the scale sounds like a major key that has stopped worrying. It is the scale of the dominant seventh chord and the natural language of blues, rock, funk and country soloing over a static major chord. The major third keeps it bright while the flat seventh keeps it earthy. Because there is no leading tone, melodies can rest on the flat seventh without demanding resolution. Listen for the major third and flat seventh together.

Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Notes
C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B
Family
Major scale modes

Notation in C♯

representative key
44123456♭71

Fretboard — frets 0–12

C♯ mixolydian — frets 0 to 12, 43 notes, roots in orange3456♭712♭7123456♭756♭7123423456♭716♭7123453456♭7120123456789101112
C♯ mixolydian — frets 0 to 12, 43 notes, roots in orange3456♭712♭7123456♭756♭7123423456♭716♭7123453456♭7120123456789101112

All 17 keys

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Same family

How to practise this scale

  • Play the flat seventh and let it rest instead of resolving.
  • Improvise a blues phrase over a static major chord and land on the flat seventh.
  • Compare it with ionian and hear the leading tone disappear.
  • Play the scale over a dominant seventh chord and accent the flat seventh.