E Lydian

Dreamy, floating, ethereal — built from B major

PARENT FAMILY · B MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	B Ionian	Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	C♯ Dorian	C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	D♯ Phrygian	D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	E Lydian	Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	F♯ Mixolydian	F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	G♯ Aeolian	G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	A♯ Locrian	A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

E F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯

Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Emaj7

II

F♯7

III

G♯m7

IV

A♯m7♭5

V

Bmaj7

VI

C♯m7

VII

D♯m7

▸ Play E Lydian over Emaj7 and F♯7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

E Lydian is a major mode with a dreamy, floating, ethereal character. It is the IV mode of B major — it uses the same 7 notes as B Ionian but is rooted on E, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Emaj7.

Where to use E 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.

RELATED KEYS