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D♭ lydian mode

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

Make a beat in D♭ major

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

The notes of D♭ lydian

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

D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D♭

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

How D♭ lydian is built

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

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 D♭ lydian

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

Play D♭ lydian over a beat

A beat on the chords of D♭ 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 D♭ lydian

What notes are in the D♭ lydian mode?

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

What key is D♭ lydian in?

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

How is D♭ lydian different from D♭ major?

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

Build a song in D♭ lydian

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