Guitar scale reference
D♭ 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 D♭
- D♭ · E♭ · F · G · A♭ · B♭ · C
D♭ 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 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------8--9-11--9--8----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------8--9-11----------------11--9--8-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------8-10-12----------------------------------12-10--8----------------------------| D|-------------------8-10-11----------------------------------------------------11-10--8-------------------| A|----------8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8----------| E|-8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-13-11-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------11-13-14----------14-13-11----------------------------------| G|------------------------10-12-13----------------------------13-12-10-------------------------| D|---------------10-11-13----------------------------------------------13-11-10----------------| A|------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10-------| E|11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-15-16-15-13-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------13-14-16----------------16-14-13----------------------------------| G|------------------------12-13-15----------------------------------15-13-12-------------------------| D|------------------13-15----------------------------------------------------15-13-------------------| A|---------13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13----------| E|13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 15–19
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------15-16-18-16-15-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------16-18----------------18-16-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------15-17-18----------------------------18-17-15----------------------------| D|------------------15-17-18----------------------------------------------18-17-15-------------------| A|---------15-16-18----------------------------------------------------------------18-16-15----------| E|15-16-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-16-15-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 17–21
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------18-20-21-20-18-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------18-20-21----------------21-20-18----------------------------------| G|------------------------17-18-20----------------------------------20-18-17-------------------------| D|---------------17-18-20----------------------------------------------------20-18-17----------------| A|---------18-20----------------------------------------------------------------------20-18----------| E|18-20-21----------------------------------------------------------------------------------21-20-18-|
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