D Lydian Dominant Scale

What is the D 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 D Lydian Dominant Scale lays out on the fretboard.

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 D, the notes are: D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C.

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.

Start with the root on beat 1, add the 5th on beat 3, then work the other scale tones in as passing notes. Use the interactive fretboard above to spot repeats of the same note on different strings and frets.