Guitar scale reference
F♯ 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 F♯
- F♯ · G♯ · A♯ · B♯ · C♯ · D♯ · E♯
F♯ 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 1–5
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------1--2--4--2--1----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------1--2--4-----------------4--2--1-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------1--3--5-----------------------------------5--3--1----------------------------| D|-------------------1--3--4-----------------------------------------------------4--3--1-------------------| A|----------1--3--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------4--3--1----------| E|-1--2--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4--2--1-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------4--6--4-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------4--6--7-----------7--6--4----------------------------------| G|-------------------------3--5--6-----------------------------6--5--3-------------------------| D|----------------3--4--6-----------------------------------------------6--4--3----------------| A|-------3--4--6-----------------------------------------------------------------6--4--3-------| E|-4--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------6--4-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 5–9
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------6--8--9--8--6-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------6--7--9-----------------9--7--6----------------------------------| G|-------------------------5--6--8-----------------------------------8--6--5-------------------------| D|-------------------6--8-----------------------------------------------------8--6-------------------| A|----------6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------------------9--8--6----------| E|-6--8--9-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------9--8--6-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8--9-11--9--8-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------9-11----------------11--9-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------8-10-11----------------------------11-10--8----------------------------| D|-------------------8-10-11----------------------------------------------11-10--8-------------------| A|----------8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8----------| E|-8--9-11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11--9--8-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------11-13-14-13-11-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------11-13-14----------------14-13-11----------------------------------| G|------------------------10-11-13----------------------------------13-11-10-------------------------| D|---------------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------13-11-10----------------| A|---------11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------13-11----------| E|11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11-|
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