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A♭ lydian mode

The A♭ lydian mode is A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G: seven notes, dreamy and floating. Its formula is 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7.

Make a beat in A♭ major

Opens the free editor with a pop beat in A♭ major to play A♭ lydian over. No account needed to start.

The notes of A♭ lydian

From A♭ up to A♭: whole, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half. Tap a key to hear it.

A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭

CDFGA♭B♭E♭A♭
The notes of A♭ lydian mode by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1A♭Root
2B♭Major second
3CMajor third
♯4DAugmented fourth
5E♭Perfect fifth
6FMajor sixth
7GMajor seventh

How A♭ lydian is built

The E♭ major scale played from its fourth note, A♭: the same notes with A♭ as home. Against A♭ major, the major scale on the same note, it has D instead of D♭.

The major scale played from its fourth note: a major scale with a raised fourth. It sounds bright and weightless, which is why film scores reach for it. The lydian mode in every key.

Chords in A♭ lydian

One chord on each note of the scale, built from its own notes. The numeral says which note it starts on, against the A♭ major scale: capitals are major, small letters minor.

IA♭IIB♭iiiCm♯iv°DdimVE♭viFmviiGm

Play A♭ lydian over a beat

A beat on the chords of A♭ major. Play the scale over it on the keyboard above, then open it in the editor and add your melody as its own part.

Hear it as

Questions about A♭ lydian

What notes are in the A♭ lydian mode?

A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F and G. Its formula is 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7, counted from the major scale on A♭, and its steps from A♭ up to A♭ are: whole, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half.

What key is A♭ lydian in?

A♭ lydian uses the notes of E♭ major, starting on its fourth note, A♭. The notes are the same; making A♭ home is what gives it its own sound.

How is A♭ lydian different from A♭ major?

D instead of D♭: one note of the A♭ major scale changes, and that note gives A♭ lydian its sound: dreamy and floating.

Lydian mode in every key

C lydianD♭ lydianD lydianE♭ lydianE lydianF lydianG♭ lydianG lydianA♭ lydianA lydianB♭ lydianB lydian

More scales on A♭

A♭ major (major scale)G♯ minor (natural minor scale)A♭ major pentatonicG♯ minor pentatonicG♯ bluesG♯ harmonic minorA♭ melodic minorG♯ dorianG♯ phrygianA♭ lydianA♭ mixolydianG♯ locrianG♯ phrygian dominant
Scales and modes
Major and minor keysMajor pentatonic scaleMinor pentatonic scaleBlues scaleHarmonic minor scaleMelodic minor scaleDorian modePhrygian modeLydian modeMixolydian modeLocrian modePhrygian dominant scaleWhole tone scale

Build a song in A♭ lydian

Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.

Make a beat in A♭ majorAll music scales

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