Guitar scale reference
D 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 D
- D · E · F♯ · G♯ · A · B · C♯
D 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 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------9-10-12-10--9----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------9-10-12----------------12-10--9-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-11-13----------------------------------13-11--9----------------------------| D|-------------------9-11-12----------------------------------------------------12-11--9-------------------| A|----------9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9----------| E|-9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------12-14-12-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------12-14-15----------15-14-12----------------------------------| G|------------------------11-13-14----------------------------14-13-11-------------------------| D|---------------11-12-14----------------------------------------------14-12-11----------------| A|------11-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------14-12-11-------| E|12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-12-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 13–17
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------14-16-17-16-14-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------14-15-17----------------17-15-14----------------------------------| G|------------------------13-14-16----------------------------------16-14-13-------------------------| D|------------------14-16----------------------------------------------------16-14-------------------| A|---------14-16-17----------------------------------------------------------------17-16-14----------| E|14-16-17----------------------------------------------------------------------------------17-16-14-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 16–20
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------16-17-19-17-16-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------17-19----------------19-17-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------16-18-19----------------------------19-18-16----------------------------| D|------------------16-18-19----------------------------------------------19-18-16-------------------| A|---------16-17-19----------------------------------------------------------------19-17-16----------| E|16-17-19----------------------------------------------------------------------------------19-17-16-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 18–22
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------19-21-22-21-19-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------19-21-22----------------22-21-19----------------------------------| G|------------------------18-19-21----------------------------------21-19-18-------------------------| D|---------------18-19-21----------------------------------------------------21-19-18----------------| A|---------19-21----------------------------------------------------------------------21-19----------| E|19-21-22----------------------------------------------------------------------------------22-21-19-|
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