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 guitar, you can treat this as both a lead vocabulary and a way to see chord tones inside common shapes. Start with one box, then connect it to the nearest root on the next string set. 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.
Practice in small fragments (3-4 notes) and connect them across adjacent positions. Use the interactive fretboard above to spot repeats of the same note on different strings and frets.