Scales & Modes
C Mixolydian ♭6
Neck DiagramOne of the 66 seven-note scales (#2, mode 5): 1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7 against major.
How it sounds, and where to use it
Often described as mysterious, cinematic.
How usual it sounds: nearly side by side on the circle of fifths: familiar, with a touch of color. (2 gaps round the circle of fifths. See its shape.)
Same notes as F Melodic Minor: read its key signature from there.
Solo with it over:CC7CaugCsus4Csus2C9C7sus4C11
Chords on C made only from this scale's notes, so every note of the scale sits safely over them.
Mode 5 of F Melodic Minor: the same notes, started from its degree 5.
Formula: W-W-H-W-H-W-W · Arpeggios in C Mixolydian ♭6
| Step | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | D | E | F | G | A♭ | B♭ |
| Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
| Interval | P1 | M2 | M3 | P4 | P5 | m6 | m7 |
Degree and Interval are the same thing written two ways: how far each note is from the root (♭6 and m6 here). See them all on the Intervals page → Click either one in the table to open that interval.
Modes
Two octaves across; each mode starts one scale degree later and is numbered from its own root. ▶ plays a mode.
The same notes, started from each degree: the degrees against major, the steps between them, and the notes.
| # | Degrees and steps | Notes | Name(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 12345♭6♭78WWHWHWW | C D E F G A♭ B♭ C | Hindu | |
| II | 12♭34♭5♭6♭78WHWHWWW | D E F G A♭ B♭ C D | Locrian ♮2 | |
| III | 1♭2♭3♭4♭5♭6♭78HWHWWWW | E F G A♭ B♭ C D E | Super Locrian | |
| IV | 12♭345678WHWWWWH | F G A♭ B♭ C D E F | Melodic Minor | |
| V | 1♭2♭3456♭78HWWWWHW | G A♭ B♭ C D E F G | Dorian ♭2 | |
| VI | 123♯4♯5678WWWWHWH | A♭ B♭ C D E F G A♭ | Lydian Augmented | |
| VII | 123♯456♭78WWWHWHW | B♭ C D E F G A♭ B♭ | Lydian Dominant |
Nobody has found a C Mixolydian ♭6 track yet. The root drone on the Every 7-note scale page works for any scale meanwhile.
Whatever turns up is checked by a person before it appears here.
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For more on modes, check out
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