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C Mixolydian Scale for 6-String Bass

Notes: C D E F G A A# · interactive fretboard

C Mixolydian

Major scale with flat 7th, dominant sound

CGDAEB123456789101112131415DEFGAA#CDAA#CDEFGAA#EFGAA#CDEFA#CDEFGAA#CFGAA#CDEFGCDEFGAA#CD
Root (C)
Scale Notes
Click empty = outside note
Notes:
CDEFGAA#

About the C Mixolydian Scale

The C mixolydian scale is a 7-note scale. Major scale with flat 7th, dominant sound. Its notes are C, D, E, F, G, A and A#, built from the formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7.

Notes
C – D – E – F – G – A – A#
Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7
Steps
W W H W W H W (2–2–1–2–2–1–2 semitones)
Root
C

C Mixolydian Scale degrees and intervals

DegreeNoteInterval
1CRoot
2DMajor 2nd
3EMajor 3rd
4FPerfect 4th
5GPerfect 5th
6AMajor 6th
♭7A#Minor 7th

Where to play the C Mixolydian Scale on 6-string bass

Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (C) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.

StringFrets
B01, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11
E10, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12
A10, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12
D20, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12
G20, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12
C30, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

How to practice the mixolydian scale

  • Emphasize the ♭7 over dominant chords
  • Practice over funk and rock grooves
  • Work on Allman Brothers-style licks
  • Try double stops with the ♭7
  • Use over dominant 7th chord vamps

Scales with the same notes as C Mixolydian Scale

These scales share every note with the C mixolydian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.

Mixolydian scale in other keys

Other scales in C

C Mixolydian Scale on other instruments