Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
A Lydian dominant
♯4 with ♭7: the "overtone" scale. Bright dominant sound.
Where you hear it: Over 7♯11 chords and tritone-sub dominants.
Step pattern W – W – W – H – W – H – W
- Parent scale: E melodic minor (starts on its 4th degree)
- Compared with A major: ♯4 D → D♯, ♭7 G♯ → G
- Compared with A natural minor: ♯3 C → C♯, ♯4 D → D♯, ♯6 F → F♯
A Lydian dominant on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the major pentatonic: playedother notes of Lydian dominant: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as A Lydian dominant
Every chord in A Lydian dominant
- A71/22easyopen
- B71/19easyopen
- C♯m7♭51/15easyfret 4· shell
- D♯m7♭51/12easyfret 1
- Em(maj7)1/8mediumfret 7
- F♯m71/15easyfret 2· shell
- Gmaj7♯51/10easyfret 3· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in A Lydian dominant
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
I – II
Two dominant 7th chords a whole step apart. The 3rd of the II7 is the ♯4, the “overtone” note.
I – II – vi – I
Add the minor vi between the two dominants for contrast, then come home to the I7.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From A you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of A Lydian dominant.
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Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.