stringery

C mixolydian

Major with a flat 7th: rock, blues and folk. Dominant family

Major and laid-back, with swagger.

Root position3 of 5

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Square: the root. In colour: the flat 7th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. CRW
  2. D2W
  3. E3H
  4. F4W
  5. G5W
  6. A6H
  7. B♭♭7W

Lowering the 7th of the major scale by one fret removes its pull home, so the music relaxes instead of resolving.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckC mixolydian

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12345EADGBE357912153456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R23456♭7R2345

Position 3 is outlined, frets 7 to 11. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The C mixolydian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. CI
  2. Dmii
  3. Edimiii°
  4. FIV
  5. Gmv
  6. Amvi
  7. B♭VII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • F major

    Same notes, but home is F: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • D minor

    Same notes, but home is D: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • G dorian

    Same notes, but home is G: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • B♭ lydian

    Same notes, but home is B♭: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • A phrygian

    Same notes, but home is A: dark, spanish, menacing.