‘C sharp mixolydian’ is the 5th mode of the F# Major scale. The notes in C# Mixolydian are:
C# – D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B
If you have read the post on understanding the mixolydian mode, you will know that the mixolydian mode contains a ‘flat 7’ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 5th mode of the major scale (derivative approach).
Because the flat 7′ (or ‘lowered 7’) is the only difference between the mixolydian mode and the major scale, it is a very simple mode to analyze.
The C# mixolydian mode is the default scale that is used to improvise over C# dominant 7 chords.
Let’s briefly look at how to construct C# mixolydian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
C# Mixolydian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
C# Major has the following notes:
C# – D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B#
If we ‘lower’ the 7th note, we get the following:
C# – D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B
C# Mixolydian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
C# is the 5th note of the F# major scale:
F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E#
If we play the F# major scale and start on the 5th note we get the following:
C# – D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B
Let’s look at the C# mixolydian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
C# Mixolydian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
C# Mixolydian CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at C# mixolydian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
C# Mixolydian 1st Position (Lowest Fret is 1)
C# Mixolydian 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)
C# Mixolydian 6th Position (Lowest Fret is 6)
C# Mixolydian 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)
C# Mixolydian 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of C# mixolydian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the mixolydian mode, check out mixolydian mode explained.
Further Reading
- C#7 chord (C# mixolydian works well over this chord).
- F# Major scale contains the mode of C# mixolydian.
