Lydian mode
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.
Its formula is 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7: seven notes, dreamy and floating.
Make a beat in F majorOpens the free editor with a pop beat in F major to play F lydian over. No account needed to start.
Hear the lydian mode
Here on F, F lydian. From the root up to the root: whole, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half. Tap a key to hear it.
F G A B C D E F
| Degree | On F | From the root |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| 2 | G | Major second |
| 3 | A | Major third |
| ♯4 | B | Augmented fourth |
| 5 | C | Perfect fifth |
| 6 | D | Major sixth |
| 7 | E | Major seventh |
Its chords, one on each note: I II iii ♯iv° V vi vii. On F that is F G Am Bdim C Dm Em.
The lydian mode in every key
The same steps from each of the twelve notes. Open one for its keyboard, its chords and a beat to play it over.
| Scale | Notes |
|---|---|
| C lydian | C D E F♯ G A B |
| D♭ lydian | D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C |
| D lydian | D E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ |
| E♭ lydian | E♭ F G A B♭ C D |
| E lydian | E F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ |
| F lydian | F G A B C D E |
| G♭ lydian | G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F |
| G lydian | G A B C♯ D E F♯ |
| A♭ lydian | A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G |
| A lydian | A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ |
| B♭ lydian | B♭ C D E F G A |
| B lydian | B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ |
Questions about the lydian mode
What is the lydian mode?
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.
What is the formula of the lydian mode?
1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7: 7 notes, counted from the major scale on the same root. Its steps from the root up to the root are: whole, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, half.
How do I play the lydian mode in any key?
Start on any note and follow the steps above. A lydian: A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯; C lydian: C D E F♯ G A B; E lydian: E F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯. Every key is on this page, each with its own page and keyboard.
Build a song on the lydian mode
Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.
Keep going
More music tools
Piano chords
See how piano chords are built and hear them on a keyboard.
Learn a chordChord finder
Tap piano keys and find the chord those notes make.
Name your chordCamelot wheel
Look up compatible keys for a smoother mix.
Match your keysChord progression generator
Pick a mood and key, hear the chords as a beat, then build on them.
Find your chordsBPM and key finder
Estimate the tempo and musical key of an audio file in your browser.
Check a trackChords, melodies, tempo, keys, names and the editor, all in one place.
All music tools