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Scale · 7 notes

C Lydian Dominant Scale

C Lydian Dominant is a 7-note scale with the notes C D E F♯ G A B♭. It sounds the fourth mode of melodic minor: Lydian with a flat 7th, bright and dominant at once, the sound of 7♯11 chords.

CDEGAF♯B♭

Purple = C (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every C lydian dominant note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEGAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯GAB♭CDEF♯G

Blue = C (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the C Lydian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1CTonic
2DSupertonic
3EMediant
♯4F♯Subdominant
5GDominant
6ASubmediant
♭7B♭Subtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C D E F♯ G A B♭.

C Lydian Dominant scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7.

Chords in the C Lydian Dominant scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
ICC7
IIDD7
iii°E°Eø7
iv°F♯°F♯ø7
vGmGm(maj7)
viAmAm7
VII+B♭+B♭7♯5

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the C Lydian Dominant scale

Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the C Lydian Dominant scale?

The notes of the C Lydian Dominant scale are C D E F♯ G A B♭.

What is the formula for the C Lydian Dominant scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7.

What chords are in the C Lydian Dominant scale?

Built from the scale in triads: C, D, E°, F♯°, Gm, Am, B♭+.

More C scales

C Major, C Natural Minor, C Harmonic Minor, C Melodic Minor, C Dorian, C Phrygian, C Lydian, C Mixolydian, C Locrian, C Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, C Blues, C Altered, C Whole Tone, C Dorian ♭2, C Lydian Augmented, C Mixolydian ♭6, C Locrian ♯2, C Phrygian Dominant, C Hungarian Minor, C Double Harmonic, C Diminished (W–H), C Diminished (H–W), C Bebop Dominant, C Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.