Lydian Mode
The Lydian Mode is the fourth of the seven modes. Lydian scales are related to Major: the F Lydian is identical with the C Major played from F. The intervals in the Lydian Mode are also similar to the Major Scale, only the fourth note deviates. It is the sharpened fourth that characterize the Lydian from major. See also Lydian Dominant and Lydian Augmented.
The best practice for hearing the scale in action, is playing it over a chord with the same root, for example, F Lydian over an F major chord. Lydian Scale works especially well over major 7th chords.
C
Notes: C, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2
C# / Db
Notes: Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db
Fingering (LH): 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3
Fingering (RH): 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2
D
Notes: D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D
Fingering (LH): 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2
Fingering (RH): 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3
D# /Eb
Notes: Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb
Fingering (LH): 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3
Fingering (RH): 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2
E
Notes: E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
F
Notes: F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
F# / Gb
Notes: Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb
Fingering (LH): 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 2
Fingering (RH): 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2
G
Notes: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3
G# / Ab
Notes: Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab
Fingering (LH): 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3
Fingering (RH): 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2
A
Notes: A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A
Fingering (LH): 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4
A# / Bb
Notes: Bb, C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb
Fingering (LH): 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2
Fingering (RH): 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4
B
Notes: B, C#, D#, F, F#, G#, A#, B
Fingering (LH): 4, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Lydian Scales overview
C: C, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C
C#/Db: C#, D#, E# (F), F## (G), G#, A#, B# (C), C# / Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db
D: D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D
D#/Eb: D#, E# (F), F## (G), G## (A), A#, B# (C), C## (D), D# / Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb
E: E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E
F: F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, A#, B# (C), C#, D#, E# (F), F# / Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb
G: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, B# (C), C## (D), D#, E# (F), F## (G), G# / Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab
A: A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A
A#/Bb: A#, B# (C), C## (D), D## (E), E# (F), F## (G), G## (A), A# / Bb, C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb
B: B, C#, D#, E# (F), F#, G#, A#, B
Intervals: 1, 2, 3, 4#, 5, 6, 7
Semi-notes: 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1
Formula: Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half
Lydian scales with note letters (sheet music PDF)
The Lydian scales in musical notes are available in the member area.
The scale in all keys (without note names) can be downloaded as a PDF-file.
Relative keys – Lydian and Major
The same notes can be found in different Major and Lydian scales:
- C Lydian – G Major
- C# Lydian – G# Major
- D Lydian – A Major
- D# Lydian – A# Major
- E Lydian – B Major
- F Lydian – C Major
- F# Lydian – C# Major
- G Lydian – D Major
- G# Lydian – D# Major
- A Lydian – E Major
- A# Lydian – F Major
- B Lydian – F# Major
If you already know the Major scales, the relative Lydian starts on the fourth. One example: C, D, E, F, G, A, B ⟶ F, G, A, B, C, D, E.
The ancient heritage
The Lydian Scale emerged in the ancient Greece together with other scales such as Locrian and Phrygian. The names were taken from regions or people – the Lydians once lived in western Anatolia.
Altered Lydian scales
Two relevant scales are the Lydian #2 (sharp two) and the Lydian #5 (sharp five). These are identical to the Lydian except for the raised second and raised fifth. Notice that the Lydian #2 is relative to the Melodic Minor.
A third altered Lydian scale is the Lydian b7 (flat seven), also known as Lydian Dominant and mentioned above. These are all altered Lydian scales.
Backing tracks
These tracks are based on modal jazz changes and you can play the same scale over the whole track (not the typical procedure in jazz, but this is meant for practicing).
Track list
F Lydian Modern Jazz
Show scale
Bb Lydian Modern Jazz
Show scale