C Lydian Dominant at a glance
Lydian Dominant (the Bartók or acoustic scale) is everywhere in modern jazz fusion and Eastern European folk. Use it over a dominant 7♯11 chord for instant sophistication. Built on the root C, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C D E F♯ G A B♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4A · 5P · 6M · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W W H W H W |
| Chords in the key | CDE°F♯°GmAmB♭+ |
Chords in the C Lydian Dominant scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
C Lydian Dominant on the piano
Improvisation drone · C
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C Lydian Dominant uses two black keys (F♯ and B♭) and five white.
C · D · E · F♯ · G · A · B♭
Play C Lydian Dominant on the online piano
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C Lydian Dominant on the guitar
C Lydian Dominant - fr 0–12
C Lydian Dominant on the staff
Notes of the C Lydian Dominant scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | D | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | E | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | F♯ | augmented 4th4A | 6 | |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | A | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | B♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes C Lydian Dominant different
Lydian dominant combines Lydian's raised fourth with Mixolydian's lowered seventh; against Mixolydian, the ♯4 is the only change. It's the fourth mode of melodic minor, also called the acoustic or Bartók scale, because its ♯4 and ♭7 sit close to the 11th and 7th harmonics of the root. Its tonic chord with the ♭7 is a dominant seventh, and the ♯4 on top of it makes the chord written 7♯11. That makes it the scale for dominant chords that don't resolve down a fifth, such as IV7, ♭VII7 and tritone substitutions. On C, C Lydian Dominant has F♯ where C Mixolydian has F; every other note is shared with C Mixolydian (C D E F G A B♭).
How to use the C Lydian Dominant scale
The diatonic chords of C Lydian Dominant are: I = C, II = D, iii° = E°, iv° = F♯°, v = Gm, vi = Am, VII+ = B♭+. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C Lydian Dominant. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Lydian Dominant (the Bartók or acoustic scale) is everywhere in modern jazz fusion and Eastern European folk. Use it over a dominant 7♯11 chord for instant sophistication.
Practice tips
Solo over a dominant 7♯11 chord using only lydian dominant notes. The raised fourth makes the chord glow; the flat seven keeps it bluesy.
Formula & step pattern
The C Lydian Dominant scale follows the fourth mode of melodic minor — major with a raised fourth and a flat seventh (1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7). Step pattern: W - W - W - H - W - H - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3M · 4A · 5P · 6M · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Famous songs in C Lydian Dominant
These well-known tracks all use the C Lydian Dominant scale.
- 01The Simpsons ThemeDanny Elfman
Questions people ask
What notes are in the C Lydian Dominant scale?
The C Lydian Dominant scale contains C, D, E, F♯, G, A and B♭.
What is the formula for the C Lydian Dominant scale?
C Lydian Dominant follows the fourth mode of melodic minor — major with a raised fourth and a flat seventh (1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7).
Is C Lydian Dominant a major or minor scale?
C Lydian Dominant is a lydian dominant scale. Fourth mode of melodic minor (also called Bartók or acoustic scale) — major with #4 and ♭7, jazzy and Eastern at once.
What chords belong to the C Lydian Dominant scale?
The diatonic chords of C Lydian Dominant are C, D, E°, F♯°, Gm, Am, B♭+.
Which genres use C Lydian Dominant?
Lydian Dominant (the Bartók or acoustic scale) is everywhere in modern jazz fusion and Eastern European folk. Use it over a dominant 7♯11 chord for instant sophistication.
How do you play the C Lydian Dominant scale on the piano?
On the piano C Lydian Dominant uses two black keys (F♯ and B♭) and five white.
What is the difference between C Lydian Dominant and C Mixolydian?
On C, C Lydian Dominant has F♯ where C Mixolydian has F; every other note is shared with C Mixolydian (C D E F G A B♭).
How do I practise the C Lydian Dominant scale?
Solo over a dominant 7♯11 chord using only lydian dominant notes. The raised fourth makes the chord glow; the flat seven keeps it bluesy.