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Scale · 7 notes

D Lydian Dominant Scale

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

CDEABF♯G♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯G♯ABCDEF♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEG♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEF♯G♯ABCDEF♯

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

Notes in the D Lydian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1DTonic
2ESupertonic
3F♯Mediant
♯4G♯Subdominant
5ADominant
6BSubmediant
♭7CSubtonic

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

D 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 D Lydian Dominant scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IDD7
IIEE7
iii°F♯°F♯ø7
iv°G♯°G♯ø7
vAmAm(maj7)
viBmBm7
VII+C+C7♯5

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

How to practise the D 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 D Lydian Dominant scale?

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

What is the formula for the D 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 D Lydian Dominant scale?

Built from the scale in triads: D, E, F♯°, G♯°, Am, Bm, C+.

More D scales

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