C Mixolydian Mode: Piano Notes & Scale Pattern

The C Mixolydian mode is the fifth mode of the F Major scale. It has a major sound with a flatted seventh degree, widely used in rock, blues, and folk.

C Mixolydian Mode Notes

Steps:: 2-2-1-2-2-1-2
Pattern:: W-W-H-W-W-H-W
Notes:: Seven-note scale

Degree	Name	Note	Interval
1	Tonic	C	P1
2	Supertonic	D	M2
3	Mediant	E	M3
4	Subdominant	F	P4
5	Dominant	G	P5
6	Submediant	A	M6
♭7	Subtonic	B♭	m7

How to Play the C Mixolydian Mode

Practice the C Mixolydian Mode hands separately at a slow, steady tempo before putting them together. Aim for even rhythm and a relaxed wrist. The goal is a smooth, connected line where every note sounds the same length and volume. Once both hands feel comfortable on their own, layer them at the same slow tempo and only speed up when the joined version is clean.

Right Hand (RH)

Place your right hand over the keys with the thumb on the root. Use the fingering: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5 (1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = pinky).

Watch for the thumb tuck: the thumb (1) passes under your fingers at note 4. Keep your wrist level and quiet. Only the thumb moves under, the hand stays in place above the keys.

Two octaves (RH): 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5

Left Hand (LH)

For the left hand, start with your pinky on the root. Use the fingering: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1

Watch for the crossover: a long finger (3 or 4) crosses over the thumb at note 6. Lift the long finger over cleanly without disturbing the thumb. Descending the scale, the thumb will pass under at the same spots in reverse.

Two octaves (LH): 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3-2-1

Common Tones

Common tones are the notes that two scales or modes share. Knowing which notes the C mode shares with its parallel modes (same root, different scale) helps with improvisation, modal interchange, and smooth voice leading. The more notes two modes share, the more closely related they sound, and the easier it is to slide between them in a solo or progression.

Parallel Mode	Common Notes	Shared / 7
C Ionian	C – D – E – F – G – A	6 / 7
C Dorian	C – D – F – G – A – B♭	6 / 7
C Lydian	C – D – E – G – A	5 / 7
C Aeolian	C – D – F – G – B♭	5 / 7
C Phrygian	C – F – G – B♭	4 / 7
C Locrian	C – F – B♭	3 / 7

Key Signature

The C Mixolydian Mode draws its notes from F Major, so it is written with that key signature: 1 flat (B♭).

B♭

Order of flats

Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.

B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭

Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

Diatonic Chords in the C Mixolydian Mode

These are the triads built on each degree of the C Mixolydian Mode:

I — C Major (major)

Degree	Numeral	Chord	Quality
1	I	C Major	Major
2	ii	D Minor	Minor
3	iii°	E Diminished	Diminished
4	IV	F Major	Major
5	v	G Minor	Minor
6	vi	A Minor	Minor
7	VII	B♭ Major	Major

C Mixolydian Mode Properties

Stability: One note in C Mixolydian Mode has no perfect fifth above it within the scale, giving the scale a small asymmetry that defines its leading quality.
Semitone steps: C Mixolydian Mode has 2 adjacent semitone steps, creating the close chromatic movement that shapes its character.
Brightness: Brightness score: 37. Higher numbers indicate a brighter, sharper sound.
Symmetry: C Mixolydian Mode has no transposition symmetry: shifting every note by the same number of semitones produces a different set of notes.
Interval profile: [2, 5, 4, 3, 6, 1](semitone pairs, step pairs, thirds, fourths, fifths, tritone pairs)
Complement: 5 notes outside this scale

Related modes and scales sharing the same 7 notes:

C Mixolydian Mode : Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the C Mixolydian mode?

C Mixolydian contains: C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb. Fifth mode of F Major. The flatted 7th (Bb instead of B) is the defining characteristic, it creates the bluesy, driving, earthy sound.

How does C Mixolydian differ from C Major?

One note: C Mixolydian has Bb (minor 7th), C Major has B (major 7th). That flatted 7th gives Mixolydian its bluesy, rock character.

What is the parent major scale of C Mixolydian?

C Mixolydian is the fifth mode of F Major. Same seven notes with C as tonal centre.

How is C Mixolydian used in music?

Mixolydian is the mode of blues, rock, and country. It is the natural scale for dominant 7th chords. Any time you see C7, C Mixolydian is the matching scale.

What chords are built from C Mixolydian?

C, Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, Bb. The dominant 7th on the tonic (C7) and the bVII chord (Bb Major) are the hallmarks.

What songs use Mixolydian?

Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Norwegian Wood (Beatles), Royals (Lorde), and most blues music use Mixolydian. It is the second most used mode after Ionian.

References and further reading

The visible claims on this mode page are grounded in these verified sources.

1. A. Eaglefield Hull (1915)
Modern Harmony: Its Explanation and Application, Whole-tone scale, pp. 69, 192 and glossary p. 219
Public domain treatise
2. Salomon Jadassohn (1883)
A Manual of Harmony
Public domain treatise
3. J. S. Bach (1722)
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude in C major, BWV 846
Public domain score
4. piano.org
piano.org scale note dataset: 25 scale types × 18 keys, derived from interval construction rules
Primary data