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Scale · 7 notes

A Lydian Dominant Scale

A Lydian Dominant is a 7-note scale with the notes A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G. It sounds the fourth mode of melodic minor: Lydian with a flat 7th, bright and dominant at once, the sound of 7♯11 chords.

EGABC♯D♯F♯

Purple = A (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every A lydian dominant note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABD♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EGABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯GABC♯EF♯GABC♯D♯EF♯G

Blue = A (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the A Lydian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1ATonic
2BSupertonic
3C♯Mediant
♯4D♯Subdominant
5EDominant
6F♯Submediant
♭7GSubtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G.

A Lydian Dominant scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7.

Chords in the A Lydian Dominant scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
IAA7
IIBB7
iii°C♯°C♯ø7
iv°D♯°D♯ø7
vEmEm(maj7)
viF♯mF♯m7
VII+G+G7♯5

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the A Lydian Dominant scale

Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the A Lydian Dominant scale?

The notes of the A Lydian Dominant scale are A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G.

What is the formula for the A Lydian Dominant scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – W – H – W – H – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7.

What chords are in the A Lydian Dominant scale?

Built from the scale in triads: A, B, C♯°, D♯°, Em, F♯m, G+.

More A scales

A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.