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 4–8
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------4--5--7--5--4----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------4--5--7-----------------7--5--4-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------4--6--8-----------------------------------8--6--4----------------------------| D|-------------------4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------7--6--4-------------------| A|----------4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------7--6--4----------| E|-4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--4-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------7--9--7-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------7--9-10----------10--9--7----------------------------------| G|-------------------------6--8--9-----------------------------9--8--6-------------------------| D|----------------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------9--7--6----------------| A|-------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6-------| E|-7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--7-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-11-12-11--9-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------9-10-12----------------12-10--9----------------------------------| G|-------------------------8--9-11----------------------------------11--9--8-------------------------| D|-------------------9-11----------------------------------------------------11--9-------------------| A|----------9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9----------| E|-9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-12-14-12-11-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------12-14----------------14-12-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------11-13-14----------------------------14-13-11----------------------------| D|------------------11-13-14----------------------------------------------14-13-11-------------------| A|---------11-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------14-12-11----------| E|11-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-12-11-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 13–17
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------14-16-17-16-14-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------14-16-17----------------17-16-14----------------------------------| G|------------------------13-14-16----------------------------------16-14-13-------------------------| D|---------------13-14-16----------------------------------------------------16-14-13----------------| A|---------14-16----------------------------------------------------------------------16-14----------| E|14-16-17----------------------------------------------------------------------------------17-16-14-|
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