Guitar scale reference
A♭ 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 A♭
- A♭ · B♭ · C · D · E♭ · F · G
A♭ 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 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------3--4--6--4--3----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------3--4--6-----------------6--4--3-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------3--5--7-----------------------------------7--5--3----------------------------| D|-------------------3--5--6-----------------------------------------------------6--5--3-------------------| A|----------3--5--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------6--5--3----------| E|-3--4--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6--4--3-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------6--8--6-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------6--8--9-----------9--8--6----------------------------------| G|-------------------------5--7--8-----------------------------8--7--5-------------------------| D|----------------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------8--6--5----------------| A|-------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------8--6--5-------| E|-6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--6-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8-10-11-10--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8--9-11----------------11--9--8----------------------------------| G|-------------------------7--8-10----------------------------------10--8--7-------------------------| D|-------------------8-10----------------------------------------------------10--8-------------------| A|----------8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8----------| E|-8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11-10--8-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------10-11-13-11-10-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------11-13----------------13-11-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------10-12-13----------------------------13-12-10----------------------------| D|------------------10-12-13----------------------------------------------13-12-10-------------------| A|---------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10----------| E|10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-15-16-15-13-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------13-15-16----------------16-15-13----------------------------------| G|------------------------12-13-15----------------------------------15-13-12-------------------------| D|---------------12-13-15----------------------------------------------------15-13-12----------------| A|---------13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------15-13----------| E|13-15-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-15-13-|
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