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	Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – B♭maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	G Dorian	Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	A Phrygian	Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	A♯ Lydian	A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	C Mixolydian	C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	D Aeolian	Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	E Locrian	Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

C D E F G A A♯

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

C7

II

Dm7

III

Em7♭5

IV

Fmaj7

V

Gm7

VI

Am7

VII

A♯maj7

▸ Play C Mixolydian over C7 and C7 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 C7.

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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