F♯ Lydian mode on guitar
The F♯ Lydian mode has seven notes: F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯ and E♯ (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 | F♯ | G♯ | A♯ | B♯ | C♯ | D♯ | E♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 F♯ Lydian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; F♯ (F♯) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (F♯) | F♯home | F♯maj7home |
| 2 (G♯) | G♯the lift | G♯7the lift |
| 3 (A♯) | A♯mhalf-light | A♯m7half-light |
| ♯4 (B♯) | B♯dimthe edge | B♯m7♭5the edge |
| 5 (C♯) | C♯the pull | C♯maj7the pull |
| 6 (D♯) | D♯mthe shadow | D♯m7the shadow |
| 7 (E♯) | E♯mcolour | E♯m7colour |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the D♭ major scale, started from its fourth note, F♯.
Questions
What notes are in the F♯ Lydian mode?
F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯ and E♯. 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 F♯ Lydian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: F♯, G♯, A♯m, B♯dim, C♯, D♯m and E♯m, and as seventh chords F♯maj7, G♯7, A♯m7, B♯m7♭5, C♯maj7, D♯m7 and E♯m7. F♯ is home: F♯ is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Lydian mode in every key
Other scales in F♯
F♯ majorF♯ minorF♯ minor pentatonicF♯ major pentatonicF♯ bluesF♯ DorianF♯ MixolydianF♯ PhrygianF♯ harmonic minorF♯ melodic minorF♯ 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.