Bb Lydian Dominant Scale

What is the Bb Lydian Dominant Scale?

The Lydian dominant scale is the fourth mode of the melodic minor, combining the raised 4th (#4) of Lydian with the ♭7 of Mixolydian. The result is a bright, slightly "outside" dominant sound that's a staple of fusion and jazz — perfect for dominant chords that don't resolve in the expected way. Here's how the Bb Lydian Dominant Scale lays out on the fretboard. This scale is enharmonically equivalent to A# Lydian Dominant.

Notes and Positions

Mix of Lydian brightness with a dominant 7th for V chord color. On bass, the fretboard view helps you visualize where the important tones sit for building lines across positions. Use a finger-per-fret approach first, then add shifts only when the line needs a wider range. In the key of Bb, the notes are: Bb, C, D, E, F, G, Ab.

How to Use It

You'll often hear it in Jazz, Fusion, and 7#11 chords. A good way to internalize the sound is to sing the root, then sing a few scale degrees before you play them.

Practice root-on-E and root-on-A boxes separately, then connect them with one clean position shift. Use the interactive fretboard above to spot repeats of the same note on different strings and frets.