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Blues Lesson 11
LYDIAN BLUES

  1. The Lydian mode
  2. The Lydian Dominat scale
  3. Lydian Blues Practice
  4. Quirky Blues (in C)
  5. Improvisation
  6. The Lydian Dominant scale Ruler
  7. Quiz - Quiz Answers
  8. Exercises
  9. Lesson Material

    Library - Keyboard Comping



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BL 11.1 - The Lydian mode

When introducing the Mixolydian mode I briefly touched on the principle of modes.

Definition : a mode is a displaced scale

A 7-tone scale, like the major scale produces therefore seven different modes. One mode for each note in the scale.
The different sound each mode produces is the result of the semitones which occur in different positions for each mode.

Audio 11.1
lesson09/bl1101.gif

The major scale itself is a mode too (the "Ionian mode'), which only over the past 300 years of Western music has been elevated to the title of 'major scale'.

The mode built on the 4th note of the major scale is called the Lydian mode
For the C major scale this is the mode built on the F :

Audio 11.2
lesson09/bl1102.gif
(The semitones occur between two adjacent red notes.)

Likewise the C Lydian mode is built on the 4th note of the G major scale.

Audio 11.3
lesson09/bl1103.gif

The above note numbers show that you can also think of a Lydian mode as a major scale with the same tonic note and a raised 4th.

To form a G Lydian mode from a G major scale for example simply raise the 4th note of the scale.

lesson09/bl1104.gif

(This of course produces the same result as starting the D major scale on its 4th scale tone, G.)

The Lydian mode has a crystal clear, bright sound which can be recognised immediately. It is the result of changing only the one note in the scale.


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BL 11.2 - The Lydian Dominant scale

This attractive bright Lydian sound has been introduced to other 7-tone scales as well.
The Lydian Dominant scale is a popular example of this. It can be formed by raising the 4th note of the Mixolydian mode.

Audio 11.4
lesson09/bl1105.gif

Audio 11.5
lesson09/bl1106.gif

Further comment (optional).


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BL 11.3 - Lydian Blues Practice

The Lydian sound is great to use in the Blues.
It forms a strong contrast to the other blues tonalities and produces a very contemporary 'with it' sound.

Simply use the appropriate Lydian Dominant scale for each chord instead of the Mixolydian mode.

In Lydian Blues the appropriate Lydian Dominant scale is used for each chord.
For the Blues in C use the :

  • C Lydian Dominant scale over the C7 chord

  • F Lydian Dominant scale over the F7 chord

  • G Lydian Dominant scale over the G7 chord
lesson09/bl1108.gif

Practise the following Lydian Dominant over the basic blues in C.

Audio 11.7
lesson09/bl1109.gif

Play-along tracks for the Blues in C (all instrument use the C, F and G Lydian Dominant scales).

  • C- instruments use bblc.mid (or any other track in C)
  • Bb- instruments use bblbb.mid (or any other track in Bb)
  • Eb- instruments use bbleb.mid (or any other track in Eb)

You can use the Lydian dominant scales over an entire blues progression, as we do in this lesson. But you can also use it sparingly just over a single chord to give your solo a sudden touch of surprise.



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BL 11.4 - Quirky Blues

Quirky Blues is a basic blues in C and was composed using Lydian Dominant scales.

I have emphasised the augmented 4th (#4)

  • F# over the C7 chord

  • B over the F7 chord

  • C# over the G7 chord

I have also included plenty of critical tones (E, Eb, B, Bb) in the melody to reflect the chord changes.

Melody
lesson09/bl1110.gif
(Flutes : play the melody 1 octave higher.)


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BL 11.5 - Improvisation

1.
Practise Lydian dominant improvisation over Quirky blues.
To bring out the Lydian sound you should treat the #4 as an additional critical tone. For the Blues in C emphasise

  • E, Bb and F# over the C7 chord

  • Eb and B over the F7 chord

  • B and C# over the G7 chord

Experiment with this. Practise Lydian Dominant Blues for the basic blues in C Concert key
(Optional : keys of F and G too.)

2.
Swapping 2s and 4s on the basic blues in C : complete improvisation

  • Take 1 (10 choruses) - : I play the first 2 bars of each 4-bar phrase, you play the following 2 bars.

  • Take 2 (10 choruses) - : You play the first 2 bars of each 4-bar phrase, I play the following 2 bars.

  • Take 3 (10 choruses) - : I play the first 4 bars, you play the following 4 bars.

  • Take 4 (10 choruses) - : You play the first 4 bars, I play the following 4 bars.

Improvise using Lydian Dominant scale-tones only.


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BL 11.6 - The Lydian Dominant scale Ruler

This Ruler works in the same way as the Rulers from previous Lessons.

bllib/blrlyddo.gif

Use the Lydian Dominant scale Ruler to find the notes of the Lydian dominant scale in any key.
For example, to find the E Mixolydian mode :

  1. first align 'E' on the Note Names ruler with '1' on the Lydian Dominant scale ruler

  2. then read the E Lydian Dominant scale : E F# G# A# D C# D E


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BL 11.7 - Quiz

A.
Convert the following Mixolydian modes into Lydian Dominant scales by altering one note of each mode.

  1. G A B C D E F G
  2. Bb C D Eb F G Ab Bb
  3. A B C# D E F# G A
  4. D E F# G A B C D
  5. Eb F G Ab Bb C Db Eb
B.
Convert the following Major scales into Lydian modes by altering two notes of each scale.
  1. C D E F G A B C
  2. F G A Bb C D E F
  3. Gb Ab Bb B Db Eb F Gb
  4. B C# D# E F# G# A# B
  5. Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
C.
Unscramble these Lydian Dominant scales.
  1. G E D F# Bb C A
  2. C B D G# F# A E
  3. Ab G E F D Bb C
  4. E C# F A G B D
  5. G C# A D# F# B E
D.
(Optional) Convert these Melodic minor scales into Lydian Dominant scales by starting the scale on the appropriate Tonic note.
  1. C D Eb F G A B
  2. F G Ab Bb C D E
  3. D E F G A B C#
  4. Bb C Db Eb F G A
  5. A B C D E F# G#
E.
Which are the #4 notes that occur in the :
  1. Blues in F
  2. Blues in G
  3. Blues in Bb
  4. Blues in D
  5. Blues in A
Quiz Answers


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BL 11.8 - Exercises

Practise the Lydian dominant scale around the Circle of 5ths as shown below (4 bars in each key).

Demo
lesson09/bl1112.gif


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BL 11.9 - Lesson Material

Lydian Dominant scale Ruler
Ex.13 - Lydian dominant scale - p.2 Demo 4 bars each key
Quirky Blues (in C) Melody Play-a-Long in C for Bb instr. in C for Eb instr.
Swapping 2s on Blues in C Demo me 1st you 1st
Swapping 4s on Blues in C me 1st you 1st

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Copyright © 2011 Michael Furstner (Jazclass). All rights reserved.