STRINGSCALES

G lydian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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G 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:

G

I

Gmaj
A

II

Amaj
B

iii°

Bdim
C♯

#iv°

C♯dim
D

v

Dm
E

vi

Em
F

bVII+

Faug

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

Same notes, different mode

G 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.

A mixolydian b6B locrian #2C# alteredD melodic minorE dorian b2F lydian augmented

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

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

How to play G lydian dominant on guitar

Open G is the root and all six open strings belong to the key, so the guitar itself supplies a chord bed under anything you play. Em is the vi chord. Lowest root sits at fret 3 on the low E, where the E-shape barre also lives, which means one hand shape gives both the triad and the position. Box one ends at fret 7, and the A-shape barre at fret 10 opens the next region.

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