Lydian Dominant
Introduction
Lydian Dominant is the fourth mode of the Melodic Minor scale. It combines the brightness of Lydian (♯4) with the tension of a dominant seventh (♭7), making it a go-to scale over dominant chords with altered color.
Structure
Formula: 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7
Interval formula: W – W – W – H – W – H – W
Example:
D Lydian Dominant (from A Melodic Minor):
D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C
Use Cases
- Jazz improvisation over dominant 7♯11 chords
- Modal interchange in funk and fusion
- Compositional color in modern classical
Diatonic Triads
| Degree | Chord Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | Dominant | D7 |
| II | Major | E |
| III | Diminished | F♯dim |
| IV | Augmented | G♯+ |
| v | Minor | Am |
| vi | Minor | Bm |
| vii | Major | C |
Diatonic 7th Chords
| Degree | Chord Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | Dominant 7 | D7 |
| II | Major 7 | Emaj7 |
| III | Half-Diminished | F♯m7♭5 |
| IV | Major 7♯5 | G♯maj7♯5 |
| v | Minor 7 | Am7 |
| vi | Minor 7 | Bm7 |
| vii | Major 7 | Cmaj7 |
Common Progressions
- I - IV - vii: D7 - G♯+ - C
- ii - V - I: Bm7 - E7 - D7
