Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
D 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: A melodic minor (starts on its 4th degree)
- Compared with D major: ♯4 G → G♯, ♭7 C♯ → C
- Compared with D natural minor: ♯3 F → F♯, ♯4 G → G♯, ♯6 B♭ → B
D 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 D Lydian dominant
Every chord in D Lydian dominant
- D71/22easyopen
- E71/20easyopen
- F♯m7♭51/15easyfret 2· shell
- G♯m7♭51/12easyfret 4· shell
- Am(maj7)1/7mediumfret 12
- Bm71/16easyopen
- Cmaj7♯51/10easyfret 8· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in D 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 D 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 D Lydian dominant.
Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.
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.
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.
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.