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 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------6--7--9--7--6----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------6--7--9-----------------9--7--6-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------6--8-10----------------------------------10--8--6----------------------------| D|-------------------6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------9--8--6-------------------| A|----------6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------9--8--6----------| E|-6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-11--9-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------9-11-12----------12-11--9----------------------------------| G|-------------------------8-10-11----------------------------11-10--8-------------------------| D|----------------8--9-11----------------------------------------------11--9--8----------------| A|-------8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8-------| E|-9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11--9-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-13-14-13-11-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------11-12-14----------------14-12-11----------------------------------| G|------------------------10-11-13----------------------------------13-11-10-------------------------| D|------------------11-13----------------------------------------------------13-11-------------------| A|---------11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11----------| E|11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 13–17
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-14-16-14-13-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------14-16----------------16-14-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------13-15-16----------------------------16-15-13----------------------------| D|------------------13-15-16----------------------------------------------16-15-13-------------------| A|---------13-14-16----------------------------------------------------------------16-14-13----------| E|13-14-16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16-14-13-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 15–19
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------16-18-19-18-16-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------16-18-19----------------19-18-16----------------------------------| G|------------------------15-16-18----------------------------------18-16-15-------------------------| D|---------------15-16-18----------------------------------------------------18-16-15----------------| A|---------16-18----------------------------------------------------------------------18-16----------| E|16-18-19----------------------------------------------------------------------------------19-18-16-|
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