G Lydian mode on guitar
The G Lydian mode has seven notes: G, A, B, C♯, D, E and F♯ (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 | G | A | B | C♯ | D | E | F♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 G Lydian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; G (G) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (G) | Ghome | Gmaj7home |
| 2 (A) | Athe lift | A7the lift |
| 3 (B) | Bmhalf-light | Bm7half-light |
| ♯4 (C♯) | C♯dimthe edge | C♯m7♭5the edge |
| 5 (D) | Dthe pull | Dmaj7the pull |
| 6 (E) | Emthe shadow | Em7the shadow |
| 7 (F♯) | F♯mcolour | F♯m7colour |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the D major scale, started from its fourth note, G.
Questions
What notes are in the G Lydian mode?
G, A, B, C♯, D, E and F♯. 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 G Lydian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: G, A, Bm, C♯dim, D, Em and F♯m, and as seventh chords Gmaj7, A7, Bm7, C♯m7♭5, Dmaj7, Em7 and F♯m7. G is home: G is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Lydian mode in every key
Other scales in G
G majorG minorG minor pentatonicG major pentatonicG bluesG DorianG MixolydianG PhrygianG harmonic minorG melodic minorG 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.