C Lydian dominant scale: notes, chords and guitar positions

Scale

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Click

bpm

DroneE2

Drums

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Colour key

R234p567

Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.

C Lydian dominant

♯4 with ♭7: the "overtone" scale. Bright dominant sound.

Where you hear it: Over 7♯11 chords and tritone-sub dominants.

Key signature 2♭ (B♭ E♭)as B♭ major / G minor, plus E♮ F♯ written in

Step pattern W – W – W – H – W – H – W

Parent scale: G melodic minor (starts on its 4th degree)
Compared with C major: ♯4 F → F♯, ♭7 B → B♭
Compared with C natural minor: ♯3 E♭ → E, ♯4 F → F♯, ♯6 A♭ → A

Hover to compare

C Lydian dominant on the guitar

R234p567

Shapes

Extra notes

Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.

in the major pentatonic: playedother notes of Lydian dominant: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.

Modes with the same notes as C Lydian dominant

G Melodic minor1st degree A Dorian ♭22nd degree B♭ Lydian augmented3rd degree C Lydian dominant4th degree D Mixolydian ♭65th degree E Locrian ♮26th degree F♯ Altered7th degree

Every chord in C Lydian dominant

C71/23
easyopen
D71/20
easyopen
Em7♭51/15
easyfret 2
F♯m7♭51/12
easyfret 2· shell
Gm(maj7)1/6
mediumfret 10
Am71/17
easyopen
B♭maj7♯51/10
easyfret 6· shell

Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.

Iconic progressions in C Lydian dominant

A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.

I – II
Two dominant 7th chords a whole step apart. The 3rd of the II7 is the ♯4, the “overtone” note.
I – II – vi – I
Add the minor vi between the two dominants for contrast, then come home to the I7.

Sus and extension chords from each chord

From C you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of C Lydian dominant.

Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.

I C7

Notes: C E G B♭

open · 1/13

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

II D7

Notes: D F♯ A C

open · 1/13

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

iii° Em7♭5

Notes: E G B♭ D

fret 2 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♯iv° F♯m7♭5

Notes: F♯ A C E

fret 2 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

v Gm(maj7)

Notes: G B♭ D F♯

fret 10 · 1/4

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

vi Am7

Notes: A C E G

open · 1/12

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭VII+ B♭maj7♯5

Notes: B♭ D F♯ A

fret 3 · 1/6

Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

Scale

Labels

Click

bpm

DroneE2

Drums

Bass

Colour key

R234p567

Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.

C Lydian dominant

♯4 with ♭7: the "overtone" scale. Bright dominant sound.

Where you hear it: Over 7♯11 chords and tritone-sub dominants.

Key signature 2♭ (B♭ E♭)as B♭ major / G minor, plus E♮ F♯ written in

Step pattern W – W – W – H – W – H – W

Parent scale: G melodic minor (starts on its 4th degree)
Compared with C major: ♯4 F → F♯, ♭7 B → B♭
Compared with C natural minor: ♯3 E♭ → E, ♯4 F → F♯, ♯6 A♭ → A

Hover to compare

C Lydian dominant on the guitar

R234p567

Shapes

Extra notes

Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.

Modes with the same notes as C Lydian dominant

G Melodic minor1st degree A Dorian ♭22nd degree B♭ Lydian augmented3rd degree C Lydian dominant4th degree D Mixolydian ♭65th degree E Locrian ♮26th degree F♯ Altered7th degree

Every chord in C Lydian dominant

C71/23
easyopen
D71/20
easyopen
Em7♭51/15
easyfret 2
F♯m7♭51/12
easyfret 2· shell
Gm(maj7)1/6
mediumfret 10
Am71/17
easyopen
B♭maj7♯51/10
easyfret 6· shell

Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.

Iconic progressions in C Lydian dominant

A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.

I – II
Two dominant 7th chords a whole step apart. The 3rd of the II7 is the ♯4, the “overtone” note.
I – II – vi – I
Add the minor vi between the two dominants for contrast, then come home to the I7.

Sus and extension chords from each chord

From C you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of C Lydian dominant.

Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.

I C7

Notes: C E G B♭

open · 1/13

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

II D7

Notes: D F♯ A C

open · 1/13

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

iii° Em7♭5

Notes: E G B♭ D

fret 2 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♯iv° F♯m7♭5

Notes: F♯ A C E

fret 2 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

v Gm(maj7)

Notes: G B♭ D F♯

fret 10 · 1/4

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

vi Am7

Notes: A C E G

open · 1/12

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭VII+ B♭maj7♯5

Notes: B♭ D F♯ A

fret 3 · 1/6

Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

Scales and modes

Colour key

C Lydian dominant

C Lydian dominant on the guitar

Modes with the same notes as C Lydian dominant

Every chord in C Lydian dominant

Iconic progressions in C Lydian dominant

I – II

I – II – vi – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Scales and modes

Colour key

C Lydian dominant

C Lydian dominant on the guitar

Modes with the same notes as C Lydian dominant

Every chord in C Lydian dominant

Iconic progressions in C Lydian dominant

I – II

I – II – vi – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour keyi

C Lydian dominant

C Lydian dominant on the guitari

Modes with the same notes as C Lydian dominant

Every chord in C Lydian dominant

Iconic progressions in C Lydian dominant

I – II

I – II – vi – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour keyi

C Lydian dominant

C Lydian dominant on the guitari

Modes with the same notes as C Lydian dominant

Every chord in C Lydian dominant

Iconic progressions in C Lydian dominant

I – II

I – II – vi – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour key

C Lydian dominant on the guitar

Colour key

C Lydian dominant on the guitar