STRINGSCALES

D lydian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

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

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

B string: B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

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D 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:

D

I

Dmaj
E

II

Emaj
F♯

iii°

F♯dim
G♯

#iv°

G♯dim
A

v

Am
B

vi

Bm
C

bVII+

Caug

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

Same notes, different mode

D 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.

E mixolydian b6F# locrian #2G# alteredA melodic minorB dorian b2C lydian augmented

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

tip
  • Over a 7#11 or any non-resolving dominant on D, this is the default modern choice: mixolydian's bVII (C) with lydian's #IV (G#).
  • Use it on tritone-substitute chords: when the bass plays a half step above the target, D lydian dominant supplies every right note.
  • Feature the #4 (G#) 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 D.

How to play D lydian dominant on guitar

Open D is the root, and four more open strings land in the key, so a drone is available on almost every course. G string is the exception. Caug is the bVII+ chord, an augmented triad available as a passing colour. Lowest root sits at fret 10 on the low E, which means box one ends at fret 14 and the rest of the neck belongs to the next shape.

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