C Lydian Dominant Scale

What is the C Lydian Dominant Scale?

The Lydian dominant scale is the fourth mode of the melodic minor, combining the raised 4th (#4) of Lydian with the ♭7 of Mixolydian. The result is a bright, slightly "outside" dominant sound that's a staple of fusion and jazz — perfect for dominant chords that don't resolve in the expected way. Here's how the C Lydian Dominant Scale lays out on the fretboard.

Notes and Positions

Mix of Lydian brightness with a dominant 7th for V chord color. On bass, this scale becomes a toolkit for strong roots, passing tones, and melodic fills that still support the groove. Think in root-on-E and root-on-A boxes, then adapt the same notes for 5-string bass when the low B string gives you another root below the pattern. In the key of C, the notes are: C, D, E, F#, G, A, Bb.

How to Use It

You'll often hear it in Jazz, Fusion, and 7#11 chords. A good way to internalize the sound is to sing the root, then sing a few scale degrees before you play them.

Loop a simple drum groove and keep every note locked to the subdivision before adding fills. Use the interactive fretboard above to spot repeats of the same note on different strings and frets.