D 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♯G♯ABC♯DEABC♯DEF♯G♯ADEF♯G♯ABC♯DG♯ABC♯DEF♯BC♯DEF♯G♯ABEF♯G♯ABC♯DE0123456789101112

Position from fret 9

EADGBEC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯G♯ABC♯DE910111213

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
1Droot
2Emajor second
3F♯ (F sharp)major third
4G♯ (G sharp)augmented fourth
5Aperfect fifth
6Bmajor sixth
7C♯ (C sharp)major 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 A major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. DI
  2. EII
  3. F♯miii
  4. G♯dimiv°
  5. AV
  6. Bmvi
  7. C♯mvii

Other D scales

The same scale in other keys