STRINGSCALES

C lydian minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: Bb, C, D, E, F#, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

D string: D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

B string: C, D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

High E string: E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

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C lydian minor

The lydian minor scale pairs a bright lydian bottom (natural 2nd and 3rd, raised 4th) with a minor top (flat 6th and 7th). The same collection appears as the fourth mode of the neapolitan major catalogue under the name lydian dominant b6. It is a bittersweet dominant color: shimmering below, sinking above, at home in film scoring.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

C

I

Cmaj
D

II

Dmaj♭5
E

iii°

Edim
F♯

#IV

A♭7no5/F#
G

v

Gm
A♭

bVI+

A♭aug
B♭

bVII+

B♭aug

Same notes, different mode

C lydian minor uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

C lydian dominant b6D major locrianE half-diminished b4F# altered dominant double b3G neapolitan majorAb leading whole toneBb lydian augmented dominant

lydian minor in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Bright bottom, minor top: rise through the lydian half (II, III, #IV (F#)), then let b6 (Ab) and b7 (Bb) sink the landing.
  • Over a dominant chord heading to minor, it promises the darkness early; III and b7 (Bb) are the guide tones.
  • The same notes are catalogued as lydian dominant b6 (Ab), the fourth mode of neapolitan major; both names, one sound.
  • Film-score trick: hold a plain major triad on C and melodize with this scale; the b6 (Ab) against the chord's 5th is instant unease.

How to play C lydian minor on guitar

Open G is the fifth and both E strings the major third, so a drone under C is there before you fret a note. Open D adds the second, making four of the six strings usable unfretted. Roots sit at fret 1 on the B string and fret 3 on the A, which lets you set up near the nut and still reach fret 5 on the G. Low E carries the lowest root at fret 8.

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