STRINGSCALES

E lydian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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E 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

Emaj
F♯

II

F♯maj
G♯

iii°

G♯dim
A♯

#iv°

A♯dim
B

v

Bm
C♯

vi

C♯m
D

bVII+

Daug

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

Same notes, different mode

E 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# alteredB melodic minorC# dorian b2D lydian augmented

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

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

How to play E lydian dominant on guitar

Both E strings ring the root open, so you have a tonic pedal at either end without fretting. Open D and B also fall in the key. Box one closes at fret 4, which means the first shape is a nut-position grip and the next box takes over from there. Bm is the v chord, and the A-shape barre sits at fret 7.

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