C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C, E, G, B, D, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M, 11A
Formula: 2W-WH-2W-WH-2W
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: maj9#11, Δ9#11, ^9#11
The C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) arpeggio contains 6 notes (C, E, G, B, D, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) Arpeggio
Play the C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) arpeggio whenever a C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) arpeggio uses 6 notes (C, E, G, B, D, F#) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate C on the A string at fret 3. Span the 6 notes (C, E, G, B, D, F#) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) arpeggio outlines a C major chord and works perfectly over C, Cmaj7, C6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Play the C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on C. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 6 notes (C, E, G, B, D, F#). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Bass Tips
Practice the C Major Sharp Eleventh (lydian) arpeggio on bass using a raking technique across adjacent strings for a smooth, flowing sound. Then try the same shape with a two-finger alternating pluck for a more defined, punchy articulation.