D Lydian

Dreamy, floating, ethereal — built from A major

PARENT FAMILY · A MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	A Ionian	Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	B Dorian	Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	C♯ Phrygian	C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	D Lydian	Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	E Mixolydian	E7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	F♯ Aeolian	F♯m7 – G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	G♯ Locrian	G♯m7♭5 – Amaj7 – Bm7 – C♯m7 – Dmaj7 – E7 – F♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

D E F♯ G♯ A B C♯

Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Dmaj7

II

E7

III

F♯m7

IV

G♯m7♭5

V

Amaj7

VI

Bm7

VII

C♯m7

▸ Play D Lydian over Dmaj7 and E7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

D Lydian is a major mode with a dreamy, floating, ethereal character. It is the IV mode of A major — it uses the same 7 notes as A Ionian but is rooted on D, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Dmaj7.

Where to use D 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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