C Lydian mode on guitar
The C Lydian mode has seven notes: C, D, E, F♯, G, A and B (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 | C | D | E | F♯ | G | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | ♯4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | half |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the C Lydian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; C (C) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C) | Chome | Cmaj7home |
| 2 (D) | Dthe lift | D7the lift |
| 3 (E) | Emhalf-light | Em7half-light |
| ♯4 (F♯) | F♯dimthe edge | F♯m7♭5the edge |
| 5 (G) | Gthe pull | Gmaj7the pull |
| 6 (A) | Amthe shadow | Am7the shadow |
| 7 (B) | Bmcolour | Bm7colour |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the G major scale, started from its fourth note, C.
Questions
What notes are in the C Lydian mode?
C, D, E, F♯, G, A and B. 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 C Lydian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: C, D, Em, F♯dim, G, Am and Bm, and as seventh chords Cmaj7, D7, Em7, F♯m7♭5, Gmaj7, Am7 and Bm7. C is home: C is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Lydian mode in every key
Other scales in C
C majorC minorC minor pentatonicC major pentatonicC bluesC DorianC MixolydianC PhrygianC harmonic minorC melodic minorC Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.