STRINGSCALES

F lydian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, A, B, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

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

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

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

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

High E string: F, G, A, B, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

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F 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:

F

I

Fmaj
G

II

Gmaj
A

iii°

Adim
B

#iv°

Bdim
C

v

Cm
D

vi

Dm
E♭

bVII+

E♭aug

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

Same notes, different mode

F 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.

G mixolydian b6A locrian #2B alteredC melodic minorD dorian b2Eb lydian augmented

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

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

How to play F lydian dominant on guitar

Four open strings land in this key, the A, D, G and B, so the inner four can ring freely while the fretting hand moves. Roots wait at fret 1 on both E strings, so the E-shape barre is playable in first position. Box one closes at fret 5. Bdim is the #iv° chord, a diminished triad sitting on the raised fourth.

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