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B lydian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E#, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

A string: A, B, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: D#, E#, F#, G#, A, B, C# at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11

G string: G#, A, B, C#, D#, E#, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

B string: B, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E#, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

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B lydian dominant

The lydian dominant scale, the fourth mode of the melodic minor scale, is also called the acoustic or overtone scale: a dominant 7th sound with a raised 4th. It is the sound of a 7#11 chord (the Simpsons theme opens with it) and the standard choice over non-resolving dominants like tritone substitutes. Brighter than mixolydian, bluesier than lydian.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B

I

Bmaj
C♯

II

C♯maj
D♯

iii°

D♯dim
E♯

#iv°

E♯dim
F♯

v

F♯m
G♯

vi

G♯m
A

bVII+

Aaug

Characteristic notes: F (#4) and A (b7), the raised fourth combined with the flat seventh, the classic jazz fusion color.

Same notes, different mode

B lydian dominant 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# mixolydian b6D# locrian #2E# alteredF# melodic minorG# dorian b2A lydian augmented

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

tip
  • Over a 7#11 or any non-resolving dominant on B, this is the default modern choice: mixolydian's bVII (A) with lydian's #IV (F).
  • Use it on tritone-substitute chords: when the bass plays a half step above the target, B lydian dominant supplies every right note.
  • Feature the #4 (F) against the chord's 5th in the same phrase; that rub is the scale's identity (think of the Simpsons theme opening).
  • It is the fourth mode of melodic minor: borrow your melodic minor fingering starting a 4th below B.

How to play B lydian dominant on guitar

Open B is the root and open A is the minor seventh, so a two-string drone covers the outer frame of the chord. Capo at fret 2 for A shapes. Lowest root is at fret 7 on the low E, and the E-shape barre shares that fret, which means the tonic chord and the position line up. F#m fills the v slot, and box one ends at fret 11.

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