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Scale · 7 notes

E Lydian Dominant Scale

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

DEBC♯F♯G♯A♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEF♯A♯BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯BDEF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEG♯A♯BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯BC♯DEF♯

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

Notes in the E Lydian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1ETonic
2F♯Supertonic
3G♯Mediant
♯4A♯Subdominant
5BDominant
6C♯Submediant
♭7DSubtonic

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

E 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 E Lydian Dominant scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IEE7
IIF♯F♯7
iii°G♯°G♯ø7
iv°A♯°A♯ø7
vBmBm(maj7)
viC♯mC♯m7
VII+D+D7♯5

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

How to practise the E 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 E Lydian Dominant scale?

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

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

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

More E scales

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