B Lydian Dominant Scale

Notes in the B Lydian Dominant Scale

Degree Name Note Frequency (A=440)
1 Tonic B 493.883 Hz
2 Supertonic C# 277.183 Hz
3 Mediant D# 311.127 Hz
♯4 Lydian 4th F 349.228 Hz
5 Dominant F# 369.994 Hz
6 Submediant G# 415.305 Hz
♭7 Subtonic A 440.000 Hz

Interval Pattern

Formula: W-W-W-H-W-H-W
Step Interval Semitones From Note To Note
1 Whole Step (W) 2 B C#
2 Whole Step (W) 2 C# D#
3 Whole Step (W) 2 D# F
4 Half Step (H) 1 F F#
5 Whole Step (W) 2 F# G#
6 Half Step (H) 1 G# A
7 Whole Step (W) 2 A B

Chords Built on Scale Degrees

Degree Note Chord Quality
1 B B major
2 C# C# major
3 D# D# diminished diminished
♯4 F F diminished diminished
5 F# F# minor minor
6 G# G# minor minor
♭7 A A augmented augmented

Key Signature

5 — The B key signature uses F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.

B Lydian Dominant Scale in Practice

The B Lydian Dominant Scale uses the key signature of 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#). B major has five sharps and a bright, somewhat tense quality. Enharmonically equivalent to Cb major, it is used in orchestral writing and some jazz compositions. On guitar, B positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.

The Lydian Dominant scale (mode IV of melodic minor) combines the raised 4th of Lydian with the flat 7th of Mixolydian. It is the preferred jazz scale for unresolved dominant chords.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Note Equal Temp. Pythagorean Just Intonation
B 493.883 Hz 495.000 Hz 490.548 Hz
C# 277.183 Hz 278.437 Hz 279.067 Hz
D# 311.127 Hz 309.026 Hz 313.951 Hz
F 349.228 Hz 347.654 Hz 348.834 Hz
F# 369.994 Hz 371.251 Hz 367.911 Hz
G# 415.305 Hz 417.657 Hz 418.601 Hz
A 440.000 Hz 440.000 Hz 436.043 Hz

Related Scales

Guitar: B Lydian Dominant Scale Positions

The B key offers 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like B are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.