Also written Kalyan
B Lydian is B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯. Box 1 keeps the ♯4 on the open E string for a ringing lift.
B Lydian is B major with a raised fourth: E becomes E♯. This ♯4 creates the Lydian sound. Compare it with B major to hear the difference.
Use B Lydian over B major chords when you want a brighter, more open sound. It fits maj7♯11 chords and works in jazz, fusion, and film scores. The ♯4 adds tension that resolves beautifully to the 5.
Start with Box 1. It keeps the root on string 3, fret 2 and covers frets 1–4, ideal for learning the ♯4 interval.
B lydian in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 12 notes across 4 strings, from E♯ on the E string at fret 1 up to B on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the G string at fret 4.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | G♯, A♯, B |
B lydian in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 9 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the E string at fret 4 up to C♯ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 4.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6 | C♯, D♯ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
B lydian in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 8 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to E♯ on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 7 and the D string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 9 | E♯, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 9 | A♯, B |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10 | D♯, E♯ |
B lydian in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 11, 8 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the E string at fret 9 up to F♯ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the D string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11 | C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 11 | E♯, F♯ |
B lydian in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the E string at fret 11 up to G♯ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 14.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | F♯, G♯ |
B lydian, position 1 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♯4 and runs from fret 1 to fret 4, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the G string at fret 4.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | G♯, A♯, B |
B lydian, position 2 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 5 and runs from fret 2 to fret 6, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the G string at fret 4.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4, 6 | F♯, G♯, A♯ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 4, 6 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 4, 6 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | A♯, B, C♯ |
B lydian, position 3 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 6 and runs from fret 4 to fret 8, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 4.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 8 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6, 8 | F♯, G♯, A♯ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6, 8 | B, C♯, D♯ |
B lydian, position 4 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 7 and runs from fret 6 to fret 10, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 7 and the D string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 10 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
B lydian, position 5 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the root and runs from fret 7 to fret 11, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 7 and the D string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9, 11 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 9, 11 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
B lydian, position 6 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 2 and runs from fret 9 to fret 13, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the D string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 13 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11, 13 | F♯, G♯, A♯ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11, 13 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 11, 13 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
B lydian, position 7 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 3 and runs from fret 11 to fret 15, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 14.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 15 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13, 15 | F♯, G♯, A♯ |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
B Lydian has a raised fourth degree: E♯ instead of E. This single note changes the scale's color from bright major to an even more luminous, floating sound. The rest of the notes are identical.
B Lydian fits over B major and B 5th chords. It especially suits Bmaj7♯11, where the ♯4 is a chord tone. Avoid using it over dominant seventh chords unless you want that altered sound.
Begin with Box 1, playing slowly and focusing on the ♯4. Use a metronome and gradually increase speed. Then move to other boxes to connect the fretboard.