D 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
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