They’re the same notes! We can say that the G Lydian
7 scale is the same as playing the D melodic minor scale from the 4th degree to the 4th
degree. This means that G Lydian
7 is another name for the fourth mode of D melodic minor. Put yet another way, we can say that the G Lydian
7 scale is the same as playing the melodic minor scale up a 5th from the root of the non-functioning dominant 7th chord. For now, we will rely on
this way of explaining the Lydian
7 scale/melodic minor scale relationship.
So, over a non-functioning dominant 7th chord, in order to soften the sense of pull to the I chord and create a feeling of ambiguity, you may play
the Lydian
7 scale from the root of the V dominant 7th chord. This is the same as playing the melodic minor scale up a 5th from the root of the V
dominant 7th chord.
Now you try playing the G Lydian
7 scale over the static G7 vamp.
Clearly not all non-functioning dominant 7th chords are static vamps. Most will be found surrounded by other chords. The next example puts the
non-functioning G7 chord in a short progression with another chord. Listen to the example. Ama7 is the tonic chord, therefore we use the A major
scale over it. Since the G7 is therefore a non-functioning dominant, we use G Lydian
7 (D melodic minor scale) over it.
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