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The Overtone Scale aka Acoustic Scale And Lydian b7

The Overtone scale is also referred to as Acoustic scale and Lydian b7 scale.

This is the fourth mode of the melodic minor scale

Construction

The Overtone Scale is made of a tonic (1), major second (2), major thirtd (3), augmented fourth (#4), perfect fifth (5), major sixth (6) and minor seventh (b7).

For those who are note familiar with the melodic minor scale, you can see it as the Lydian mode, fourth mode of the major scale but with a sharp eleventh (#11).

Here is a chart formula and a short audio clip with the C Overtone scale as example.

You can see and hear the main particularity of the scale, the augmented eleventh (#11).

This scale is a good choice when you want to add a little bit of tension to your improvisations over a Dominant 7 chord.

C Overtone C D E F# G A Bb
Formula 1 2 (9) 3 #4 (#11) 5 6 (13) b7
Intervals W W W H W H W

 

Guitar Neck Diagrams

Here are some neck diagrams that will help you visualize and play the overtone scale on guitar.

Acoustic scale guitar tabs
Overtone scale for guitar

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Last edited: 2026-05-05

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