Guitar scale reference
B♭ Lydian scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
Lydian is a major mode with a raised 4th. The augmented fourth removes the ordinary major-scale pull from 4 to 3 and creates an open, suspended brightness over a major tonic.
What gives the scale its sound
Pair the major 3rd with the raised 4th to establish the sound. The major 7th still leads to the root, but ♯4 is the colour tone that distinguishes Lydian from major.
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · 5 · 6 · 7
- Notes in B♭
- B♭ · C · D · E · F · G · A
B♭ Lydian across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------5--6--8--6--5----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------5--6--8-----------------8--6--5-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------5--7--9-----------------------------------9--7--5----------------------------| D|-------------------5--7--8-----------------------------------------------------8--7--5-------------------| A|----------5--7--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------8--7--5----------| E|-5--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--6--5-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8-10--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8-10-11----------11-10--8----------------------------------| G|-------------------------7--9-10----------------------------10--9--7-------------------------| D|----------------7--8-10----------------------------------------------10--8--7----------------| A|-------7--8-10----------------------------------------------------------------10--8--7-------| E|-8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--8-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------10-12-13-12-10-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------10-11-13----------------13-11-10----------------------------------| G|-------------------------9-10-12----------------------------------12-10--9-------------------------| D|------------------10-12----------------------------------------------------12-10-------------------| A|---------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10----------| E|10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------12-13-15-13-12-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------13-15----------------15-13-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------12-14-15----------------------------15-14-12----------------------------| D|------------------12-14-15----------------------------------------------15-14-12-------------------| A|---------12-13-15----------------------------------------------------------------15-13-12----------| E|12-13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-13-12-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 14–18
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------15-17-18-17-15-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------15-17-18----------------18-17-15----------------------------------| G|------------------------14-15-17----------------------------------17-15-14-------------------------| D|---------------14-15-17----------------------------------------------------17-15-14----------------| A|---------15-17----------------------------------------------------------------------17-15----------| E|15-17-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-17-15-|
Practice drill
Locate 3–♯4–5 in every position, then sustain the raised 4th before resolving either direction. Connect two shapes while keeping a major-triad tone as the landing point.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser