Guitar scale reference
E 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 E
- E · F♯ · G♯ · A♯ · B · C♯ · D♯
E 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 0–4
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------0--2--4--2--0----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------0--2--4-----------------4--2--0-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------1--3--4-----------------------------------4--3--1----------------------------| D|-------------------1--2--4-----------------------------------------------------4--2--1-------------------| A|----------1--2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------4--2--1----------| E|-0--2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4--2--0-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 1–5
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------2--4--2-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------2--4--5-----------5--4--2----------------------------------| G|-------------------------1--3--4-----------------------------4--3--1-------------------------| D|----------------1--2--4-----------------------------------------------4--2--1----------------| A|-------1--2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------4--2--1-------| E|-2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4--2-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------4--6--7--6--4-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------4--5--7-----------------7--5--4----------------------------------| G|-------------------------3--4--6-----------------------------------6--4--3-------------------------| D|-------------------4--6-----------------------------------------------------6--4-------------------| A|----------4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------------------7--6--4----------| E|-4--6--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--6--4-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------6--7--9--7--6-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------7--9-----------------9--7-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------6--8--9-----------------------------9--8--6----------------------------| D|-------------------6--8--9-----------------------------------------------9--8--6-------------------| A|----------6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6----------| E|-6--7--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--7--6-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-11-12-11--9-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------9-11-12----------------12-11--9----------------------------------| G|-------------------------8--9-11----------------------------------11--9--8-------------------------| D|----------------8--9-11----------------------------------------------------11--9--8----------------| A|----------9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------11--9----------| E|-9-11-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-11--9-|
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