This　article　proposes　a　novel　and　generalized　single-carrier　(SC)　pulsewidth　modulation　(PWM)　scheme　suitable　for　multilevel　converters.　Compared　with　the　existing　SC-PWM　schemes,　the　proposed　one　presents　a　simpler　approach　to　replicate　the　behavior　of　the　phase　disposition　PWM　method　at　any　operating　point.　Besides　having　an　easier　digital　implementation,　the　proposed　SC-PWM　scheme　results　in　great　control　flexibility　to　optimize　the　operation　of　multilevel　converters.　Based　on　the　rationales　of　the　proposed　SC-PWM　scheme,　an　optimized　switching　strategy　for　a　cascaded　H-bridge　(CHB)　multilevel　inverter　architecture　is　developed.　The　proposed　optimized　switching　strategy　imposes　appropriate　switching　sequences　with　a　minimum　number　of　power　device　commutations　per　cycle,　leading　to　both　half-wave　and　quarter-wave　symmetries　at　the　individual　H-bridge　cell　level,　which　subsequently　improves　the　converter　harmonic　performances　and　reduces　the　overall　switching　losses.　The　validity　and　effectiveness　of　both　proposed　modulation　and　switching　strategies　are　demonstrated　through　the　intensive　simulation　and　experimental　test　results　provided　both　in　time　and　frequency　domains.　The　experimental　results　are　obtained　on　a　three-phase　seven-level　CHB　inverter　for　an　18-kW　laboratory　prototype.