D Lydian mode
A major scale with a raised fourth: bright, floating, a little unreal. The sound of dreamy movie scores.
- Notes:
- D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯.
- Formula:
- 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, 7.
- Style:
- Film music, pop, instrumental rock.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
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
Its color
Lydian is a major scale with its fourth raised by a half step: here G♯. That sharp fourth takes the down-to-earth feel out of major: everything floats. It has the same notes as the A major scale, but starts on D.
Which chords to play it over
Play it over a D major 7 chord, or over the D, E, D, E vamp. Lean on G♯ to bring out the Lydian color.
Where you hear it
Movie and cartoon scores, dreamy pop and virtuoso guitarists. Often-cited examples: “Flying in a Blue Dream” (Joe Satriani) and The Simpsons theme.
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 7 positions
Seven positions, one for each note of the mode, with three notes per string: the same shapes as the major scale, but the root (in orange) falls elsewhere. The characteristic note is in purple. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 10 to 16
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------------------12-14-16-| B|-------------------------------------12-14-15----------| G|----------------------------11-13-14-------------------| D|-------------------11-12-14----------------------------| A|----------11-12-14-------------------------------------| E|-10-12-14----------------------------------------------|
Position 2: frets 0 to 5
It also works an octave higher, frets 12 to 17.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------2-4-5-| B|-------------------------2-3-5-------| G|-------------------1-2-4-------------| D|-------------0-2-4-------------------| A|-------0-2-4-------------------------| E|-0-2-4-------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 2 to 7
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------4-5-7-| B|-------------------------3-5-7-------| G|-------------------2-4-6-------------| D|-------------2-4-6-------------------| A|-------2-4-5-------------------------| E|-2-4-5-------------------------------|
Position 4: frets 4 to 9
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------5-7-9-| B|-------------------------5-7-9-------| G|-------------------4-6-7-------------| D|-------------4-6-7-------------------| A|-------4-5-7-------------------------| E|-4-5-7-------------------------------|
Position 5: frets 5 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------------7-9-10-| B|-------------------------7-9-10--------| G|-------------------6-7-9---------------| D|-------------6-7-9---------------------| A|-------5-7-9---------------------------| E|-5-7-9---------------------------------|
Position 6: frets 7 to 12
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------------9-10-12-| B|-----------------------------9-10-12---------| G|----------------------7-9-11-----------------| D|---------------7-9-11------------------------| A|--------7-9-11-------------------------------| E|-7-9-10--------------------------------------|
Position 7: frets 9 to 14
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|------------------------------------------10-12-14-| B|---------------------------------10-12-14----------| G|-------------------------9-11-13-------------------| D|-----------------9-11-12---------------------------| A|---------9-11-12-----------------------------------| E|-9-10-12-------------------------------------------|