C Mixolydian Scale on Guitar — 2 Shapes to Play the Whole Neck
C Mixolydian is one of the seven modes of the major scale — on guitar its notes are C D E F G A Bb, built from the formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7. Computed live for this exact root and scale, Fretprism finds 2 repeating shapes — the small pattern set you actually need to play it across the whole neck.
C Mixolydian Scale Notes
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 1 |
| 2 | D | 2 |
| 3 | E | 3 |
| 4 | F | 4 |
| 5 | G | 5 |
| 6 | A | 6 |
| 7 | Bb | b7 |
C Mixolydian Formula
Degree formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Whole – Half – Whole
C Mixolydian on the Guitar Fretboard
The notes of Mixolydian repeat across the guitar fretboard in connected positions. Use the shape below to identify root notes, scale degrees, and neighboring shapes.
- Frets 1–8 (span 7 frets)
- Lowest note A, highest note G
- 2 C root notes, on the E string (fret 8), G string (fret 5)
How to practice this shape
- Start on the root — C at fret 8 on the E string. Play up to the highest note in the shape, then back down, staying inside frets 1–8.
- Your hand shifts 4 times as you cross strings: A→D (-2), D→G (-1), G→B (+1), B→E (-2). Those crossings — not the notes — are what this position is really asking you to learn.
- Once it feels automatic, move on to the next of the 2 shapes — together they cover the whole neck, and the same pattern repeats from there.
What Gives C Mixolydian Its Sound?
The characteristic sound of C Mixolydian comes from its minor 7th.
Diatonic chords
These are the 7 chords built from C Mixolydian's own notes — the ones that will sound like they belong when you're writing a progression, backing a melody, or jamming in this key. The Roman numeral shows each chord's role in the key: capital for major, lowercase for minor, ° for diminished, + for augmented. Not every scale produces a clean chord on every degree — where that happens, we show it honestly instead of forcing a name that doesn't fit.
C Mixolydian Scale Relationships
- Parent scale: F Major (Ionian)
C Mixolydian vs C Major (Ionian)
C Mixolydian and C Major (Ionian) differ on 1 degree: the 7th (b7 vs 7).
C Mixolydian FAQ
C Mixolydian contains the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb.
C Mixolydian is a mode of F Major (Ionian).
C Mixolydian has a natural (major) 3rd degree, giving it a major character. It's derived from F Major (Ionian).
The diatonic chords in C Mixolydian are C, Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, Bb.