Guitar scale reference
C 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 C
- C · D · E · F♯ · G · A · B
C 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 7–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------7--8-10--8--7-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------7--8-10----------------10--8--7----------------------------------| G|----------------------------7--9-----------------------------------9--7----------------------------| D|-------------------7--9-10----------------------------------------------10--9--7-------------------| A|----------7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7----------| E|-7--8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--8--7-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------10-12-10-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------10-12-13----------13-12-10----------------------------------| G|-------------------------9-11-12----------------------------12-11--9-------------------------| D|----------------9-10-12----------------------------------------------12-10--9----------------| A|-------9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9-------| E|10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------12-14-15-14-12-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------12-13-15----------------15-13-12----------------------------------| G|------------------------11-12-14----------------------------------14-12-11-------------------------| D|------------------12-14----------------------------------------------------14-12-------------------| A|---------12-14-15----------------------------------------------------------------15-14-12----------| E|12-14-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-14-12-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 14–17
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------14-15-17-15-14----------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------15-17----------------17-15----------------------------------| G|------------------------14-16-17----------------------------17-16-14-------------------------| D|---------------14-16-17----------------------------------------------17-16-14----------------| A|------14-15-17----------------------------------------------------------------17-15-14-------| E|15-17----------------------------------------------------------------------------------17-15-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 16–20
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------17-19-20-19-17-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------17-19-20----------------20-19-17----------------------------------| G|------------------------16-17-19----------------------------------19-17-16-------------------------| D|---------------16-17-19----------------------------------------------------19-17-16----------------| A|---------17-19----------------------------------------------------------------------19-17----------| E|17-19-20----------------------------------------------------------------------------------20-19-17-|
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