D Lydian mode on guitar
The D Lydian mode has seven notes: D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B and C♯ (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 | D | E | F♯ | G♯ | A | B | C♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 D Lydian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; D (D) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (D) | Dhome | Dmaj7home |
| 2 (E) | Ethe lift | E7the lift |
| 3 (F♯) | F♯mhalf-light | F♯m7half-light |
| ♯4 (G♯) | G♯dimthe edge | G♯m7♭5the edge |
| 5 (A) | Athe pull | Amaj7the pull |
| 6 (B) | Bmthe shadow | Bm7the shadow |
| 7 (C♯) | C♯mcolour | C♯m7colour |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the A major scale, started from its fourth note, D.
Questions
What notes are in the D Lydian mode?
D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B and C♯. 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 D Lydian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: D, E, F♯m, G♯dim, A, Bm and C♯m, and as seventh chords Dmaj7, E7, F♯m7, G♯m7♭5, Amaj7, Bm7 and C♯m7. D is home: D is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Lydian mode in every key
Other scales in D
D majorD minorD minor pentatonicD major pentatonicD bluesD DorianD MixolydianD PhrygianD harmonic minorD melodic minorD 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.