A Lydian Dominant Guitar Scale — 8-string

A Lydian Dominant in 8-string — Notes and Intervals

The A Lydian Dominant scale, also known as the Acoustic scale, sounds bright, quirky, and dominant all at once. On Guitar, its notes are A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G. It is widely used in jazz and animation music to solo over dominant chords that do not resolve in the traditional way. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Blues, Film Scores. Notable players include Frank Zappa, Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny. Use over 7#11, 9#11 chords. Ideal for non-resolving dominant chords (the 'Simpsons chord'). Gives a sophisticated twist to blues progressions.

Notes: A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4A, 5P, 6M, 7m

Degrees: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 b7

Formula: W-W-W-H-W-H-W

Number of notes: 7

Tuning: 8-string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E)

Also known as: lydian b7, overtone

About 8-string Tuning

The 8-string guitar adds both a low B and a low F# string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E), pushing the instrument's range almost into bass guitar territory. This massive tonal range has become the weapon of choice for djent, progressive metal, and experimental composers who need bone-crushing low-end and soaring highs in a single instrument.

With artists like Tosin Abasi, Meshuggah, and After the Burial leading the charge, the 8-string guitar has redefined what's possible in modern heavy music. The low F# string delivers subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest, while the upper strings maintain standard guitar voicings for leads and clean passages. Extended-range compositions often exploit the full span of the instrument, creating a wall of sound that covers bass, rhythm, and lead guitar roles simultaneously.

Notable artists: Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders, After the Burial, Intervals, Monuments

Best for: Djent polyrhythms, extended-range metal riffs, experimental compositions, and one-instrument arrangements spanning bass to lead

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

• A Lydian Dominant in Standard Tuning
• A Lydian Dominant in Drop D
• A Lydian Dominant in DADGAD
• A Lydian Dominant in Open G
• A Lydian Dominant in Baritone (B Standard)
• A Lydian Dominant in 7-string
• A Lydian Dominant in Drop C
• A Lydian Dominant in Drop B
• A Lydian Dominant in Open D
• A Lydian Dominant in Half Step Down
• A Lydian Dominant in Open E
• A Lydian Dominant in Open A
• A Lydian Dominant in Double Drop D
• A Lydian Dominant in Open C

← All Guitar scales in 8-string tuning