G Lydian

Dreamy, floating, ethereal — built from D major

PARENT FAMILY · D MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	D Ionian	Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	E Dorian	Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	F♯ Phrygian	F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	G Lydian	Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	A Mixolydian	A7 – Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	B Aeolian	Bm7 – C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	C♯ Locrian	C♯m7♭5 – Dmaj7 – Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7 – Bm7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

G A B C♯ D E F♯

Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Gmaj7

II

A7

III

Bm7

IV

C♯m7♭5

V

Dmaj7

VI

Em7

VII

F♯m7

▸ Play G Lydian over Gmaj7 and A7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

G Lydian is a major mode with a dreamy, floating, ethereal character. It is the IV mode of D major — it uses the same 7 notes as D Ionian but is rooted on G, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Gmaj7.

Where to use G 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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