C Lydian Minor Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
C Lydian Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C Lydian Minor scale is a unique scale that blends Lydian brightness with a layer of minor-key melancholy. On Ukulele, the notes are C, D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb. It provides a sophisticated, bittersweet color that is perfect for modern film scores and emotive jazz solos. Commonly used in Film Scores, Jazz, Progressive. Notable players include Danny Elfman, Brad Mehldau. Use over m7#11 chords. A specialized color for emotive jazz and cinematic passages that need emotional complexity.
Notes: C, D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 #4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-W-W-H-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
How to Play C Lydian Minor on Ukulele
On ukulele, find C on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The C Lydian Minor scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative major is E major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the C Lydian Minor scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C-E, D-F#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on C to let the characteristic intervals of the Lydian Minor scale come through clearly.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the C Lydian Minor scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know.
The C Lydian Minor scale contains 7 notes (C, D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Lydian Minor
The C Lydian Minor scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore C Lydian Minor Further
- Harmonize the C Lydian Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C Lydian Minor on Guitar
- C Lydian Minor on Bass
- C Lydian Minor on Piano