F Mixolydian Sharp Second Charango Scale
Charango scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
F Mixolydian Sharp Second Scale — Notes and Intervals
The F 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 Charango, its notes are F, G#, A, Bb, C, D, Eb. 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: F, G#, A, Bb, C, D, Eb
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 F 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 F Mixolydian Sharp Second on Charango
Begin by locating F on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Mixolydian Sharp Second scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The F Mixolydian Sharp Second scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative minor is D minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the F Mixolydian Sharp Second scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on F to let the characteristic intervals of the Mixolydian Sharp Second scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in jazz contexts.
Charango Tips
Practice the F Mixolydian Sharp Second scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a bluesy quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The F Mixolydian Sharp Second scale contains 7 notes (F, G#, A, Bb, C, D, Eb). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Charango 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 F Mixolydian Sharp Second
The F 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.
Explore F Mixolydian Sharp Second Further
- Harmonize the F Mixolydian Sharp Second scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- F Mixolydian Sharp Second on Guitar
- F Mixolydian Sharp Second on Ukulele
- F Mixolydian Sharp Second on Bass
- F Mixolydian Sharp Second on Piano