D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic Guitar Scale — Open D
Guitar scale in Open D tuning — fretboard diagram
D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Open D — Notes and Intervals
The D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic scale is a streamlined five-note scale built directly around the structure of a dominant seventh chord. On Guitar, its notes are D#, G, A, A#, C#. It is a highly efficient tool for jazz and bebop players who need to navigate rapid harmonic changes with rhythmic precision and clarity. Commonly used in Jazz, Bebop, Fusion. Notable players include Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino. Use over 7#11, 9#11 chords. Efficient for fast bebop lines over non-resolving dominant chords.
Notes: D#, G, A, A#, C#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 4A, 5P, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 #3 4 b5
Formula: 4-W-H-WH-W
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
About Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) produces a full D major chord when strummed open, creating a warm, resonant sound that has been a staple of slide guitar, folk, and acoustic music for over a century. The three D strings create a deep, droning foundation that makes even simple chord shapes sound lush and full.
Open D is closely related to Open E (same intervals, just a whole step lower) but puts less tension on the guitar neck, making it safer for acoustic instruments. It was a favorite of Joni Mitchell, who used it extensively for her unique chord voicings, and Bob Dylan, who popularized it in folk-rock. For slide players, Open D provides the same intuitive major-chord-at-any-fret approach as Open G but with a warmer, deeper character.
Notable artists: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Bruce Cockburn, Elmore James
Best for: Slide guitar, folk fingerpicking, singer-songwriter arrangements, and acoustic compositions with rich open-string resonance
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Standard Tuning
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Drop D
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in DADGAD
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Open G
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard)
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in 7-string
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in 8-string
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Drop C
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Drop B
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Half Step Down
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Open E
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Open A
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Double Drop D
- D# Lydian Dominant Pentatonic in Open C