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Piano scale

C Mixolydian Mode

The C Mixolydian Mode has 7 notes: C – D – E – F – G – A – B♭.

  1. C
    1
  2. D
    2
  3. E
    3
  4. F
    4
  5. G
    5
  6. A
    6
  7. B♭
    7

Notes of the C Mixolydian Mode

DegreeNotesIntervalsFormula
1CRoot1
2DMajor 2nd2
3EMajor 3rd3
4FPerfect 4th4
5GPerfect 5th5
6AMajor 6th6
7B♭Minor 7th♭7

Step pattern

W – W – H – W – W – H – W

From the root to the octave the scale moves in this pattern: W – W – H – W – W – H – W.

W = whole step (2 semitones), H = half step (1 semitone), W+H = 3 semitones

Sound and character

Major with a lowered 7th — major's brightness with a bluesy edge. The scale of rock anthems, Celtic music, and anything that sounds epic yet earthy.

Sound: Earthy & anthemic

Chords in the C Mixolydian Mode

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree to get its chords.

DegreeTriads7th chords
ICC7
iiDmDm7
iii°EdimEm7♭5
IVFFmaj7
vGmGm7
viAmAm7
VIIB♭B♭maj7

How to use it

The natural choice over a dominant 7th chord, and the sound of many rock, folk and Celtic tunes built on a major chord with a flat 7th.

C Mixolydian Mode uses the same notes as the F Major scale, starting from a different note.

Songs that use it

  • Hey Jude · The Beatles
    Rock
  • Sweet Home Alabama · Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Rock
  • Norwegian Wood · The Beatles
    Rock

Play the C Mixolydian Mode with different sounds in the interactive builder.

Open in the chord builder

Practising on an acoustic piano that sounds off?

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