D Lydian Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open A tuning — fretboard diagram
D Lydian Minor in Open A — 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
Tuning: Open A (E-A-E-A-C#-E)
About Open A Tuning
Open A tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E) produces an A major chord when strummed open. It is structurally identical to Open G tuned up one whole step, delivering a brighter, more tense sound that works particularly well for slide guitar centered on the key of A.
Jimmy Page used Open A with a slide on Led Zeppelin's 'In My Time of Dying' from Physical Graffiti (1975). Rory Gallagher also employed Open A for his raw, energetic slide work. Many players achieve Open A by simply placing a capo at the 2nd fret in Open G tuning, which is why dedicated Open A usage is less commonly discussed. However, without a capo, Open A gives direct access to the open A string resonance and a different feel under the fingers due to the higher tension.
Notable artists: Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, Delta blues players
Best for: Slide guitar in the key of A, blues playing, and situations where you need the brightness of Open G tuned up without a capo
Musical Character
Lydian brightness (#4) meets minor melancholy (b3, b7) — a sophisticated contradiction. Sounds like hope filtered through sadness.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D Lydian Minor in Standard Tuning
- D Lydian Minor in Drop D
- D Lydian Minor in DADGAD
- D Lydian Minor in Open G
- D Lydian Minor in Baritone (B Standard)
- D Lydian Minor in 7-string
- D Lydian Minor in 8-string
- D Lydian Minor in Drop C
- D Lydian Minor in Drop B
- D Lydian Minor in Open D
- D Lydian Minor in Half Step Down
- D Lydian Minor in Open E
- D Lydian Minor in Double Drop D
- D Lydian Minor in Open C