STRINGSCALES

F♯ lydian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B#, C# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: G#, A#, B#, C#, D#, E, F# at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

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

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

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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

F♯maj
G♯

II

G♯maj
A♯

iii°

A♯dim
B♯

#iv°

B♯dim
C♯

v

C♯m
D♯

vi

D♯m
E

bVII+

Eaug

Characteristic notes: C (#4) and E (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 b2E 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 (E) with lydian's #IV (C).
  • 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 (C) 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

Both E strings carry the minor seventh open, so that tone is always under the hand. Capo at fret 2 and the whole shape reads as E lydian dominant, which means six sharps never have to be read. Roots sit at fret 2 on those same E strings, at fret 9 on the A and fret 7 on the B. Box one hands over at fret 6.

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