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Lydian and Phrygian
After the two most common modes, two bolder colors. Lydian is dreamy, Phrygian smells of Spain and metal. Each one also comes down to a single note. Goal: bring out Lydian’s augmented fourth and Phrygian’s minor second.
- Time:
- 15 minutes a day for a week.
- Before you start:
- The Mixolydian mode.
- You’ll be able to:
- Make Lydian and Phrygian heard.
Lydian: the major that floats
C Lydian: C, D, E, F#, G, A, B. It’s C major with an augmented fourth (F# instead of F). The perfect fourth of major “pulls” toward the third; raised, it no longer pulls: everything floats. It’s the sound of dreamy film scores.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Its vamp: I, II, both major: C, D. The D chord contains the F#.
e|-----------------| B|-----5-7-8-5-----| G|-5-7---------7-5-| D|-----------------| A|-----------------| E|-----------------|
Phrygian: the Spanish minor
E Phrygian: E, F, G, A, B, C, D. It’s a minor with a minor second: F, just a half step above the root. That half step gives flamenco its dark color, and many metal riffs too.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Its vamp: i, ♭II: Em, F. The half-step back-and-forth between the two chords is the mode’s signature.
e|-0-1-0-------1-0-| B|-------3-1-0-----| G|-----------------| D|-----------------| A|-----------------| E|-----------------|
The typical move: F falling back to E, on the open high E string.
The four colors
| Mode | Type | Characteristic note | Vamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorian | minor | major 6 | i, IV |
| Mixolydian | major | ♭7 | I, ♭VII |
| Lydian | major | ♯4 | I, II |
| Phrygian | minor | ♭2 | i, ♭II |
The Modes page covers all seven, with their formulas.
Improvise
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Then the same in Lydian:
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
You’ve got it when…
Lesson complete. Every goal is checked: you’re ready for the next one.
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