E Lydian mode on bass
The E Lydian mode has seven notes: E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯ and D♯ (1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7). A major scale with a sharp 4th. Dreamy and floating rather than settled; play it over a maj7 or maj7♯11 chord, or a major chord moving to the major chord a tone above (C to D).
| Note | E | F♯ | G♯ | A♯ | B | C♯ | D♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | ♯4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | half |
7 positions to learn it in
Played three notes on every string, the E Lydian mode has a position starting on each of its notes. They are good for speed, with the same picking pattern on every string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the E Lydian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; E (E) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (E) | Ehome | Emaj7home |
| 2 (F♯) | F♯the lift | F♯7the lift |
| 3 (G♯) | G♯mhalf-light | G♯m7half-light |
| ♯4 (A♯) | A♯dimthe edge | A♯m7♭5the edge |
| 5 (B) | Bthe pull | Bmaj7the pull |
| 6 (C♯) | C♯mthe shadow | C♯m7the shadow |
| 7 (D♯) | D♯mcolour | D♯m7colour |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the B major scale, started from its fourth note, E.
Questions
What notes are in the E Lydian mode?
E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯ and D♯. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W W W H W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the E Lydian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: E, F♯, G♯m, A♯dim, B, C♯m and D♯m, and as seventh chords Emaj7, F♯7, G♯m7, A♯m7♭5, Bmaj7, C♯m7 and D♯m7. E is home: E is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Lydian mode in every key
Other scales in E
E majorE minorE minor pentatonicE major pentatonicE bluesE DorianE MixolydianE PhrygianE harmonic minorE melodic minorE Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: bass scales. This scale on guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.