C# Mixolydian Sharp Second Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
C# Mixolydian Sharp Second Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C# Mixolydian Sharp Second scale introduces a raised second into the Mixolydian framework, creating a built-in major and minor ambiguity that mirrors the heart of blues tonality. On Bass, its notes are C#, E, F, F#, G#, A#, B. It offers guitarists a fresh palette for dominant seventh and ninth chord soloing, bridging blues grit with fusion sophistication. Commonly used in Blues, Fusion, Rock, Jazz. Notable players include Robben Ford, Larry Carlton. Use over dominant 7th and 9th chords. The coexistence of #2 and natural 3rd allows simultaneous major and minor inflections, ideal for blues turnarounds and fusion vamps.
Notes: C#, E, F, F#, G#, A#, B
Intervals: 1P, 2A, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 #2 3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: WH-H-H-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
The #2 (enharmonic b3) coexists with the natural 3rd, giving the scale a built-in major/minor ambiguity reminiscent of the blues. Both the 1st and 4th scale degrees support dominant 7th chords, making it a rich source for blues-rock composition.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Blues, Fusion, Rock, Jazz
Notable players: Robben Ford, Larry Carlton
How to Use the C# Mixolydian Sharp Second Scale
Use over dominant 7th and 9th chords. The coexistence of #2 and natural 3rd allows simultaneous major and minor inflections, ideal for blues turnarounds and fusion vamps.
Origin & Background
A synthetic Mixolydian variant that raises the 2nd degree by a half step, creating an augmented 2nd from the root. The resulting sound bridges blues tonality with dominant harmony, offering a fresh palette for guitarists who have exhausted standard blues scale vocabulary.
How to Play C# Mixolydian Sharp Second on Bass
On bass, locate C# on the A string at fret 4. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The C# Mixolydian Sharp Second scale contains 4 sharps (C#, F#, G#, A#). Its relative minor is A# minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Begin by playing the C# Mixolydian Sharp Second scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C#-F, E-F#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on C# to let the characteristic intervals of the Mixolydian Sharp Second scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in jazz contexts.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the C# Mixolydian Sharp Second scale to build walking bass lines by targeting chord tones on strong beats and using scale tones as approach notes. This is the foundation of functional bass playing. Aim for a bluesy quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The C# Mixolydian Sharp Second scale contains 7 notes (C#, E, F, F#, G#, A#, B). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C# Mixolydian Sharp Second
The C# Mixolydian Sharp Second scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.