Guitar scale reference
G 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 G
- G · A · B · C♯ · D · E · F♯
G 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 2–6
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------2--3--5--3--2----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------2--3--5-----------------5--3--2-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------2--4--6-----------------------------------6--4--2----------------------------| D|-------------------2--4--5-----------------------------------------------------5--4--2-------------------| A|----------2--4--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------5--4--2----------| E|-2--3--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5--3--2-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 4–8
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------5--7--5-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------5--7--8-----------8--7--5----------------------------------| G|-------------------------4--6--7-----------------------------7--6--4-------------------------| D|----------------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------7--5--4----------------| A|-------4--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------7--5--4-------| E|-5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--5-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------7--9-10--9--7-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------7--8-10----------------10--8--7----------------------------------| G|-------------------------6--7--9-----------------------------------9--7--6-------------------------| D|-------------------7--9-----------------------------------------------------9--7-------------------| A|----------7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7----------| E|-7--9-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--9--7-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-10-12-10--9-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------10-12----------------12-10-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-11-12----------------------------12-11--9----------------------------| D|-------------------9-11-12----------------------------------------------12-11--9-------------------| A|----------9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9----------| E|-9-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--9-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------12-14-15-14-12-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------12-14-15----------------15-14-12----------------------------------| G|------------------------11-12-14----------------------------------14-12-11-------------------------| D|---------------11-12-14----------------------------------------------------14-12-11----------------| A|---------12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------14-12----------| E|12-14-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-14-12-|
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