A Lydian

Dreamy, floating, ethereal — built from E major

PARENT FAMILY · E MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (E major). A Lydian is the IV mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	E Ionian	Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	F♯ Dorian	F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	G♯ Phrygian	G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	A Lydian	Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	B Mixolydian	B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	C♯ Aeolian	C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	D♯ Locrian	D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

A B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯

Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

The Lydian scale on A contains the notes A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯. The pentatonic subset is A, B, C♯, E, F♯.

Characteristic note: the ♯4 (raised fourth) gives it a dreamy, floating quality.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Amaj7

II

B7

III

C♯m7

IV

D♯m7♭5

V

Emaj7

VI

F♯m7

VII

G♯m7

▸ Play A Lydian over Amaj7 and B7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

A Lydian is a major mode with a dreamy, floating, ethereal character. It is the IV mode of E major — it uses the same 7 notes as E Ionian but is rooted on A, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Amaj7.

Where to use A Lydian

Film music, jazz, progressive rock.

Famous examples

The Simpsons theme
Flying (Beatles)
Lydian film scores

What makes it distinctive: the ♯4 (raised fourth) gives it a dreamy, floating quality.

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