Lydian

* The scale above is the Major Pentatonic Scale with the #4th(green) and 7th(red) degrees add in to create the Lydian Scale.

Important Characteristics:

• It is the 4th mode of the Major Scale.
• It is used for soloing over the IV (4) chord in a major key.
• It is the brightest sounding scale of all the major modes.
• It is the Major Scale with a raised (#) 4th degree and a major 7th.

For Example:

C D E    G A      C – Major Pentatonic

1  2  3     5 6       1

C D E F# G A B  C – Lydian.

1  2  3 #4 5  6 7  1

C D E F G A B   C – Major Scale.

1  2 3 4  5  6 7   1

*It is important that you first master the Major Pentatonic Scale well before learning Lydian.  This is because the Major Pentatonic Scale is the basic skeleton of the 3 Major Modes:  Ionian(Major), Lydian and Mixolydian.  I teach them all as just major pentatonic scales with the respective 4th and 7th degrees added.

Now Visit: Lydian Scale Practice