What is the F# 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 F# Lydian Dominant Scale lays out on the fretboard. This scale is enharmonically equivalent to Gb Lydian Dominant.
Notes and Positions
Mix of Lydian brightness with a dominant 7th for V chord color. On guitar, you can treat this as both a lead vocabulary and a way to see chord tones inside common shapes. Start with one box, then connect it to the nearest root on the next string set. In the key of F#, the notes are: F#, G#, A#, B#, C#, D#, E.
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 in small fragments (3-4 notes) and connect them across adjacent positions. Use the interactive fretboard above to spot repeats of the same note on different strings and frets.