CH·01 / F♯ LYDIAN
IV
F♯ Lydian
Dreamy, floating, ethereal — built from C♯ major
PARENT FAMILY · C♯ MAJ
All 7 modes share the same parent scale (C♯ major). F♯ Lydian is the IV mode.
| # | Mode | Diatonic chords | Mood |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | C♯ Ionian | C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 – G♯7 – A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 | Happy, bright, resolved |
| II | D♯ Dorian | D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 – G♯7 – A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 | Soulful, minor but with hope |
| III | F Phrygian | Fm7 – G♭maj7 – A♭7 – B♭m7 – Cm7♭5 – D♭maj7 – E♭m7 | Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco |
| IV | F♯ Lydian | F♯maj7 – G♯7 – A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 | Dreamy, floating, ethereal |
| V | G♯ Mixolydian | G♯7 – A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 | Bluesy, dominant, rock |
| VI | A♯ Aeolian | A♯m7 – Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 – G♯7 | Melancholic, natural minor |
| VII | C Locrian | Cm7♭5 – C♯maj7 – D♯m7 – Fm7 – F♯maj7 – G♯7 – A♯m7 | Unstable, tense, dissonant |
SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7
F♯
G♯
A♯
C
C♯
D♯
F
Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7
The Lydian scale on F♯ contains the notes F♯, G♯, A♯, C, C♯, D♯, F. The pentatonic subset is F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯, D♯.
Characteristic note: the ♯4 (raised fourth) gives it a dreamy, floating quality.
DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD
I
F♯maj7
II
G♯7
III
A♯m7
IV
Cm7♭5
V
C♯maj7
VI
D♯m7
VII
Fm7
▸ Play F♯ Lydian over F♯maj7 and G♯7 progressions.
FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE
CHARACTER · DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL
DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL
F♯ Lydian is a major mode with a dreamy, floating, ethereal character. It is the IV mode of C♯ major — it uses the same 7 notes as C♯ Ionian but is rooted on F♯, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is F♯maj7.
Where to use F♯ 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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