C♯ Mixolydian

Bluesy, dominant, rock — built from F♯ major

PARENT FAMILY · F♯ MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (F♯ major). C♯ Mixolydian is the V mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	F♯ Ionian	F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	G♯ Dorian	G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	A♯ Phrygian	A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	B Lydian	Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	C♯ Mixolydian	C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	D♯ Aeolian	D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	F Locrian	Fm7♭5 – G♭maj7 – A♭m7 – B♭m7 – Bmaj7 – D♭7 – E♭m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

C♯ D♯ F F♯ G♯ A♯ B

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

The Mixolydian scale on C♯ contains the notes C♯, D♯, F, F♯, G♯, A♯, B. The pentatonic subset is C♯, D♯, F, G♯, A♯.

Characteristic note: the ♭7 (flat seventh) gives it a bluesy, dominant feel.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

C♯7

II

D♯m7

III

Fm7♭5

IV

F♯maj7

V

G♯m7

VI

A♯m7

VII

Bmaj7

▸ Play C♯ Mixolydian over C♯7 and C♯7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

BLUESY, DOMINANT, ROCK

C♯ Mixolydian is a major mode with a bluesy, dominant, rock character. It is the V mode of F♯ major — it uses the same 7 notes as F♯ Ionian but is rooted on C♯, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is C♯7.

Where to use C♯ Mixolydian

Blues, rock, country, funk.

Famous examples

Norwegian Wood (Beatles)
Sweet Home Chicago
Gimme Shelter

What makes it distinctive: the ♭7 (flat seventh) gives it a bluesy, dominant feel.

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