Chord Colors

A Lydian scale

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About the A Lydian scale

A Lydian is used for film scores, dream-pop and anything that should feel wondrous or weightless. Think of it as a major scale that floats and dreams, thanks to its raised fourth.

Its notes are A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The formula is W W W H W W H. It is the fourth mode of E Major.

Also called Yaman and Kalyan.

Learn more about the A Lydian scale

This mode shares E, A, and B with the guitar's open strings. The lowest A on a guitar is the open A string.

Positions

Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.

CAGED

Five shapes, each anchored to a chord form you already know, the pop and rock default that ties your scales to your chords. The outlined notes are that chord, so you can see the C, A, G, E, and D shapes inside the scale.

A shapeopen
G shapefr 2
E shapefr 4
D shapefr 6
C shapefr 9
3NPS

3NPS stands for 3 notes per string. It lays the scale out in seven even shapes for rock and metal lead, and favors speed because the picking pattern stays consistent across every string.

Shape 1open
Shape 2fr 2
Shape 3fr 4
Shape 4fr 5
Shape 5fr 7
Shape 6fr 9
Shape 7fr 11
7-position system

7 four-fret boxes, one per scale degree, each a single hand position with almost no shifting. The jazz and classical way, from William Leavitt's Berklee method.

Position 1open
Position 2fr 2
Position 3fr 4
Position 4fr 5
Position 5fr 7
Position 6fr 9
Position 7fr 11

Chords in the key of A Lydian

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

I A
Position 1 of 4
II B
Position 1 of 4
iii C sharp minor
Position 1 of 4
iv° D sharp diminished
Position 1 of 4
V E
Position 1 of 4
vi F sharp minor
Position 1 of 4
vii G sharp minor
Position 1 of 4
4fr

Seventh chords in A Lydian

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

I A major seven
Position 1 of 4
II B seven
Position 1 of 4
iii C sharp minor seven
Position 1 of 4
4fr
iv° D sharp minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4
V E major seven
Position 1 of 4
vi F sharp minor seven
Position 1 of 4
vii G sharp minor seven
Position 1 of 4
4fr

Progressions in A Lydian

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Common
Common

Notes and intervals

1AARoot
2BBMajor 2nd
3C#C♯Major 3rd
4D#D♯Augmented 4th
5EEPerfect 5th
6F#F♯Major 6th
7G#G♯Major 7th
StepsW W W H W W H
Semitones2-2-2-1-2-2-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Lydian in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

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A Lydian scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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