B Lydian

Dreamy, floating, ethereal — built from F♯ major

PARENT FAMILY · F♯ MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (F♯ major). B Lydian is the IV mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	F♯ Ionian	F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	G♯ Dorian	G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	A♯ Phrygian	A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	B Lydian	Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	C♯ Mixolydian	C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	D♯ Aeolian	D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	F Locrian	Fm7♭5 – G♭maj7 – A♭m7 – B♭m7 – Bmaj7 – D♭7 – E♭m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

B C♯ D♯ F F♯ G♯ A♯

Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Bmaj7

II

C♯7

III

D♯m7

IV

Fm7♭5

V

F♯maj7

VI

G♯m7

VII

A♯m7

▸ Play B Lydian over Bmaj7 and C♯7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

B Lydian is a major mode with a dreamy, floating, ethereal character. It is the IV mode of F♯ major — it uses the same 7 notes as F♯ Ionian but is rooted on B, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Bmaj7.

Where to use B 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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