C♯ Mixolydian at a glance
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character. Built on the root C♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W H W W H W |
| Chords in the key | C♯D♯mE♯°F♯G♯mA♯mB |
Chords in the C♯ Mixolydian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
C♯ Mixolydian on the piano
Improvisation drone · C♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C♯ Mixolydian uses five black keys (C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯) and two white. E♯ is the white key you'd normally call F.
C♯ · D♯ · E♯ · F♯ · G♯ · A♯ · B
Try C♯ Mixolydian on the virtual piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
C♯ Mixolydian on the guitar
C♯ Mixolydian - fr 0–12
C♯ Mixolydian on the staff
Notes of the C♯ Mixolydian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | D♯ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | E♯ | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | F♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | G♯ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | A♯ | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | B | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes C♯ Mixolydian different
Mixolydian is the major scale with a lowered seventh, and that ♭7 is its only difference from major. Without a leading tone the v chord turns minor and a major chord appears on ♭VII, which gives rock its I, ♭VII, IV sound. Add the ♭7 to the tonic triad and you get a dominant seventh chord, which is why Mixolydian is the scale for dominant chords and for blues-rock. It's the fifth mode of the major scale, so it shares its notes with the major scale a perfect fourth above its root. On C♯, C♯ Mixolydian has B where C♯ Major has B♯; every other note is shared with C♯ Major (C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯).
Modes from C♯ Mixolydian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the C♯ Mixolydian scale
The diatonic chords of C♯ Mixolydian are: I = C♯, ii = D♯m, iii° = E♯°, IV = F♯, v = G♯m, vi = A♯m, VII = B. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C♯ Mixolydian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character.
Practice tips
Improvise over a major chord using the flat seventh - instantly sounds bluesy or country-flavoured.
Formula & step pattern
The C♯ Mixolydian scale follows a major scale with a flat seventh degree (W-W-H-W-W-H-W). Step pattern: W - W - H - W - W - H - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Famous songs in C♯ Mixolydian
These well-known tracks all use the C♯ Mixolydian scale.
- 01Sweet Child O' MineGuns N' Roses
Questions people ask
What notes are in the C♯ Mixolydian scale?
The C♯ Mixolydian scale contains C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯ and B.
What is the formula for the C♯ Mixolydian scale?
C♯ Mixolydian follows a major scale with a flat seventh degree (W-W-H-W-W-H-W).
Is C♯ Mixolydian a major or minor scale?
C♯ Mixolydian is a mixolydian scale. Major scale with a flat seventh - the dominant sound of blues and rock.
What chords belong to the C♯ Mixolydian scale?
The diatonic chords of C♯ Mixolydian are C♯, D♯m, E♯°, F♯, G♯m, A♯m, B.
Which genres use C♯ Mixolydian?
Mixolydian is all over blues-rock, country, Celtic music and a huge chunk of classic rock. That flat seventh gives it a dominant, swaggering character.
How do you play the C♯ Mixolydian scale on the piano?
On the piano C♯ Mixolydian uses five black keys (C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯) and two white. E♯ is the white key you'd normally call F.
What is the difference between C♯ Mixolydian and C♯ Major?
On C♯, C♯ Mixolydian has B where C♯ Major has B♯; every other note is shared with C♯ Major (C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯).
How do I practise the C♯ Mixolydian scale?
Improvise over a major chord using the flat seventh - instantly sounds bluesy or country-flavoured.