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A♭ lydian dominant pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Gb, Ab, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 4, 8, 10, 11

A string: C, D, Eb, Gb, Ab at frets 3, 5, 6, 9, 11

D string: D, Eb, Gb, Ab, C, D at frets 0, 1, 4, 6, 10, 12

G string: Ab, C, D, Eb, Gb at frets 1, 5, 7, 8, 11

B string: C, D, Eb, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 9

High E string: Gb, Ab, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 4, 8, 10, 11

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Ab lydian dominant pentatonic

The lydian dominant pentatonic condenses the lydian dominant mode into root, major 3rd, raised 4th, 5th, flat 7th: a 7#11 chord as a scale. It delivers that bright-but-bluesy Simpsons-theme color over a dominant chord in five notes, perfect when you want the #11 sound stated plainly rather than buried in a seven note run.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I

C

III

D

#IV

E♭

V

G♭

bVII

lydian dominant pentatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • This is a Ab7#11 chord as five notes: the root, 3rd (C), raised 4th (D), 5th (Eb) and flat 7th (Gb); play it over a dominant vamp and the #11 states itself.
  • Where the full lydian dominant scale can sound busy, this pentatonic keeps only the color tones; use it for sparse funk lines.
  • Rock the #IV (D) against the V, a half step apart, as the scale's built-in hook.
  • Resolve bVII (Gb) down a half step when the dominant finally moves; everything else can stay where it is.

How to play A♭ lydian dominant pentatonic on guitar

Open D is the single in-scale open string, sitting an augmented fourth above the root, so this key is fretted work almost throughout. Box 1 holds at fret 4, and the shift lands at fret 8. Closest root to the nut: G string, fret 1. Capo at fret 1 turns G fingerings into this key, letting one shape do double duty.

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