Guitar scale reference
E♭ 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 E♭
- E♭ · F · G · A · B♭ · C · D
E♭ 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 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------10-11-13-11-10----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------10-11-13----------------13-11-10-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------10-12-14----------------------------------14-12-10----------------------------| D|------------------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------13-12-10-------------------| A|---------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10----------| E|10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-15-13-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------13-15-16----------16-15-13----------------------------------| G|------------------------12-14-15----------------------------15-14-12-------------------------| D|---------------12-13-15----------------------------------------------15-13-12----------------| A|------12-13-15----------------------------------------------------------------15-13-12-------| E|13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-13-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 14–18
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------15-17-18-17-15-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------15-16-18----------------18-16-15----------------------------------| G|------------------------14-15-17----------------------------------17-15-14-------------------------| D|------------------15-17----------------------------------------------------17-15-------------------| A|---------15-17-18----------------------------------------------------------------18-17-15----------| E|15-17-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-17-15-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 17–21
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------17-18-20-18-17-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------18-20----------------20-18-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------17-19-20----------------------------20-19-17----------------------------| D|------------------17-19-20----------------------------------------------20-19-17-------------------| A|---------17-18-20----------------------------------------------------------------20-18-17----------| E|17-18-20----------------------------------------------------------------------------------20-18-17-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 19–23
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------20-22-23-22-20-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------20-22-23----------------23-22-20----------------------------------| G|------------------------19-20-22----------------------------------22-20-19-------------------------| D|---------------19-20-22----------------------------------------------------22-20-19----------------| A|---------20-22----------------------------------------------------------------------22-20----------| E|20-22-23----------------------------------------------------------------------------------23-22-20-|
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