E Lydian mode on guitar
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 |
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 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: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.