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D lydian dominant pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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D 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:

D

I

F♯

III

G♯

#IV

A

V

C

bVII

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

tip
  • This is a D7#11 chord as five notes: the root, 3rd (F#), raised 4th (G#), 5th (A) and flat 7th (C); 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 (G#) against the V, a half step apart, as the scale's built-in hook.
  • Resolve bVII (C) down a half step when the dominant finally moves; everything else can stay where it is.

How to play D lydian dominant pentatonic on guitar

Open D string is the root and open A the fifth, so two strings pedal before you fret a note. Only those two open strings are in scale, which means the rest of the line is fretted. Box 1 begins at fret 10. Fretted roots sit at fret 3 on the B, fret 5 on the A and fret 7 on the G.

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