The Lydian Scales

The Lydian mode is one of the seven traditional musical modes, known for its bright, airy, and uplifting character that sets it apart from the major and minor scales. Built by raising the fourth note of the major scale, it creates a sound that is cheerful, dreamy, and slightly otherworldly—often described as major with a shimmering or floating quality. This mode is commonly found in film scores, jazz, and progressive rock, where its distinctive brightness adds a sense of wonder and expansiveness.

In the Lydian mode, the arrangement of whole steps (tones) and half steps (semitones) between consecutive notes follows a specific pattern. Consecutive notes are a whole step apart, except for the 4th to 5th degree, which is a half step. This structure gives the Lydian scale its distinctive luminous feel: it is close to the major scale, but with a raised 4th that adds tension and a sense of uplifted motion.

Let’s take a look at the Lydian scales on each starting note.

Lydian Scales

F Lydian

The F Lydian Scale is made up of only white notes.

Here are the notes of F Lydian scale: F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F

Notes of F Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending Scale of F Lydian

Notes of F Lydian on the piano

Listen to the F Lydian scale here:

F# Lydian Scale

The F# Lydian scale is made up of these notes: F#, G#, A#, B#, C#, D#, E#, F#

Notes of F# Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending Scale of F# Lydian

Notes of F# Lydian on the piano

Listen to the F# Lydian Scale here:

Note that F# and G♭ Lydian are enharmonic, and they sound the same.

G Lydian Scale

The G Lydian scale is made up of these notes: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G

Notes of G Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending Scale of G Lydian

Notes of G Lydian on the piano

Listen to the G Lydian scale here:

A♭ Lydian Scale

The A♭ Lydian Scale is made up of these notes: A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭

Ascending Scale of A♭ Lydian on the music stave or music staff — Ascending Scale of A♭ Lydian

Notes of A♭ Lydian on the Piano

Listen to the A♭ Lydian Scale here:

Note that G# and A♭ Lydian are enharmonic, and they sound the same.

A Lydian Scale

Here are the notes for A Lydian Scale: A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A

Notes of A Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending Scale of A Lydian

Notes of A Lydian on the piano

Listen to the A Lydian Scale here:

B♭ Lydian Scale

Here are the notes of B♭ Lydian Scale: B♭, C, D, E, F, G, A, B♭

Notes of B♭ Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending Scale of B♭ Lydian

Notes of B♭ Lydian on the piano

Listen to the B♭ Lydian scale here:

Note that A# and B♭ Lydian are enharmonic, and they sound the same.

B Lydian Scale

Here are the notes in B Lydian Scale:

Notes of B Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending scale of B Lydian

Notes of B Lydian on the piano

Listen to B Lydian here:

C Lydian Scale

Here are the notes of C Lydian scale: C, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C

Notes of C Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending Scale of C Lydian

Notes of C Lydian on the piano

Listen to C Lydian scale here:

D♭ or C# Lydian Scale

Here are the notes of D♭ Lydian Scale: D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭

Notes of D♭ Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending Scale of D♭ Lydian

Notes of D♭ Lydian on the Piano

Listen to the D♭ Lydian scale here:

Note that C# and D♭ Lydian are enharmonic, and they sound the same.

D Lydian Scale

Here are the notes of D Lydian scale: D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D

Notes of D Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending scale of D Lydian

Notes of D Lydian on the piano

Listen to D Lydian Scale here:

E♭ or D# Lydian Scale

Here are the notes in E♭ Lydian Scale: E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭

Notes of E flat Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending scale of E♭ Lydian Notes of Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale.

Notes of E flat lydian scale on the piano — Notes of E♭ Lydian on the piano

Listen to E♭ Lydian Scale:

Note that D# and E♭ Lydian are enharmonic, and they sound the same.

E Lydian Scale

Here are the notes in E Lydian scale: E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E

Notes of E Lydian on the music stave or staff. this is an ascending Lydian scale. — Ascending Scale of E Lydian Scale

Notes of E Lydian on the piano — Notes of E Lydian Scale

Listen to the E Lydian Scale:

Listen to the Lydian Scale

Listening to scales help us understand and identify the feel of the Lydian mode better.

You can find the playlist of the scales here:

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