B Lydian mode on piano

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 keyboard

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Numbers above the keys are the scale degrees; the root is filled.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Broot
2C♯ (C sharp)major second
3D♯ (D sharp)major third
4E♯ (E sharp)augmented fourth
5F♯ (F sharp)perfect fifth
6G♯ (G sharp)major sixth
7A♯ (A 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 F sharp major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. BI
  2. C♯II
  3. D♯miii
  4. E♯dimiv°
  5. F♯V
  6. G♯mvi
  7. A♯mvii

Other B scales

The same scale in other keys