Also written Kalyan
E Lydian is E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯. Box 1 puts the ♯4 on the first fret of the A string.
E Lydian is E major with a raised fourth: A becomes A♯. This ♯4 creates the Lydian sound. Compare it with E major to hear the difference.
Use E Lydian over E 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 2, fret 2 and covers frets 0–3, ideal for learning the ♯4 interval.
E lydian in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A♯ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the E string at fret 0 and the D string at fret 2.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | A♯, B |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | G♯, A♯ |
E lydian in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 4, 8 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the D string at fret 2.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4 | A♯, B |
E lydian in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 10 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 A string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
E lydian in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 4 strings, from A♯ on the E string at fret 6 up to E on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | C♯, D♯, E |
E lydian in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 9 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 E string at fret 12 and the G string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
E lydian in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 11 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 E string at fret 12 and the D string at fret 14.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | F♯, G♯ |
E lydian, position 1 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the root and runs from fret 0 to fret 4, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 0 and the D string at fret 2.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2, 4 | E, F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2, 4 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | G♯, A♯, B |
E lydian, position 2 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 2 and runs from fret 2 to fret 6, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the D string at fret 2.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4, 6 | F♯, G♯, A♯ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 4, 6 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4, 6 | E, F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | A♯, B, C♯ |
E lydian, position 3 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 3 and runs from fret 4 to fret 8, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6, 8 | F♯, G♯, A♯ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6, 8 | B, C♯, D♯ |
E lydian, position 4 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♯4 and runs from fret 6 to fret 9, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | C♯, D♯, E |
E lydian, position 5 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 5 and runs from fret 7 to fret 11, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9, 11 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (A) | 7, 9, 11 | E, F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 9, 11 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | D♯, E, F♯ |
E lydian, position 6 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 6 and runs from fret 9 to fret 13, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 12 and the G string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11, 13 | F♯, G♯, A♯ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11, 13 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 11, 13 | E, F♯, G♯ |
E lydian, position 7 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 7 and runs from fret 11 to fret 15, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 12 and the D string at fret 14.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | 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.
E Lydian has a raised fourth degree: A♯ instead of A. 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.
E Lydian fits over E major and E 5th chords. It especially suits Emaj7♯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.