D Lydian Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
D Lydian Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Lydian Minor scale is a unique scale that blends Lydian brightness with a layer of minor-key melancholy. On Guitar, the notes are D, E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C. It provides a sophisticated, bittersweet color that is perfect for modern film scores and emotive jazz solos. Commonly used in Film Scores, Jazz, Progressive. Notable players include Danny Elfman, Brad Mehldau. Use over m7#11 chords. A specialized color for emotive jazz and cinematic passages that need emotional complexity.
Notes: D, E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 #4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-W-W-H-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
How to Play D Lydian Minor on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 10 on the 6th (low E) to find your D root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position using open D string.
The D Lydian Minor scale contains both sharps and flats (2 sharps, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative major is F# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Practice the D Lydian Minor scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on D to let the characteristic intervals of the Lydian Minor scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, try playing the D Lydian Minor scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for longer scale runs.
The D Lydian Minor scale contains 7 notes (D, E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Lydian Minor
The D Lydian Minor scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore D Lydian Minor Further
- Harmonize the D Lydian Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Lydian Minor on Ukulele
- D Lydian Minor on Bass
- D Lydian Minor on Piano
Explore D Lydian Minor in Other Tunings
- D Lydian Minor in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Lydian Minor in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Lydian Minor in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Lydian Minor in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Lydian Minor in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Lydian Minor in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Lydian Minor in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Lydian Minor in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Lydian Minor in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Lydian Minor in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Lydian Minor in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Lydian Minor in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Lydian Minor in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Lydian Minor in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)