STRINGSCALES

E♭ lydian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

A string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

D string: Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

G string: G, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, G, A, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

High E string: F, G, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

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Eb 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:

E♭

I

E♭maj
F

II

Fmaj
G

iii°

Gdim
A

#iv°

Adim
B♭

v

B♭m
C

vi

Cm
D♭

bVII+

D♭aug

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

Same notes, different mode

Eb 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.

F mixolydian b6G locrian #2A alteredBb melodic minorC dorian b2Db lydian augmented

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

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

How to play E♭ lydian dominant on guitar

Fret 1 on the D string puts a root within reach of the nut, so the low shapes stay playable in first position. Open A supplies the raised fourth and open G the major third, which means two chord tones ring free. Lowest root waits at fret 11. Box one ends at fret 15, and Gdim is the iii° chord a major third above the tonic.

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