G Lydian Dominant Ukulele Scale
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What chords fit over G Lydian Dominant?
Open G Lydian Dominant HarmonizerG Lydian Dominant Scale — Notes and Intervals
The G Lydian Dominant scale, also known as the Acoustic scale, sounds bright, quirky, and dominant all at once. On Ukulele, its notes are G, A, B, C#, D, E, F. 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: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F
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
Also known as: lydian b7, overtone
Musical Character
Combines Lydian's floating brightness (#4) with Mixolydian's bluesy dominance (b7). The result is a scale that is both dreamy and grounded — bright without being sweet.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Fusion, Blues, Film Scores
Notable players: Frank Zappa, Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny
How to Use the G Lydian Dominant Scale
Use over 7#11, 9#11 chords. Ideal for non-resolving dominant chords (the 'Simpsons chord'). Gives a sophisticated twist to blues progressions.
Origin & Background
Also called the Acoustic scale or Overtone scale because it closely matches the natural harmonic series.
How to Play G Lydian Dominant on Ukulele
On ukulele, find G on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The G Lydian Dominant scale contains 1 sharp (C#). Its relative minor is E minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the G Lydian Dominant scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (G-B, A-C#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on G to let the characteristic intervals of the Lydian Dominant scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in fusion contexts.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the G Lydian Dominant scale sounds particularly charming when played as a melodic pattern over fingerpicked chord shapes. Try integrating scale tones into your strumming patterns for a more sophisticated sound. Aim for a bright quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Lydian Dominant is the 4th mode of the Melodic Minor scale (Acoustic scale). View G Melodic minor scale
The G Lydian Dominant scale contains 7 notes (G, A, B, C#, D, E, F). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for G Lydian Dominant
The G Lydian Dominant 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 G Lydian Dominant Further
- Harmonize the G Lydian Dominant scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- G Lydian Dominant on Guitar
- G Lydian Dominant on Bass
- G Lydian Dominant on Piano