C Lydian mode on guitar

The Lydian mode is a major scale with a raised fourth. Its dreamy, floating color is loved in film music and by guitarists like Joe Satriani.

On the whole neck

EADGBEEF♯GABCDEABCDEF♯GADEF♯GABCDGABCDEF♯GBCDEF♯GABEF♯GABCDE0123456789101112

Position from fret 7

EADGBEBCDEF♯GABCDEF♯F♯GABCD7891011

Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Croot
2Dmajor second
3Emajor third
4F♯ (F sharp)augmented fourth
5Gperfect fifth
6Amajor sixth
7Bmajor seventh

Steps between notes: W – W – W – H – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step)

This mode uses the same notes as the G major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. CI
  2. DII
  3. Emiii
  4. F♯dimiv°
  5. GV
  6. Amvi
  7. Bmvii

Other C scales

The same scale in other keys