A lydian scale on guitar

A lydian contains A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, and G♯. Its raised fourth distinguishes it from A major and opens bright melodic lines.

Positions on the neck1 of 6

Practice A lydian scale

How it is built

A1B2C♯3D♯♯4E5F♯6G♯7

Formula 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, 7

How do you play the A lydian scale on guitar?

A lydian in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 2, 12 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	0, 2	E, F♯
5 (A)	0, 2	A, B
4 (D)	1, 2	D♯, E
3 (G)	1, 2	G♯, A
2 (B)	0, 2	B, C♯
1 (e)	0, 2	E, F♯

Box 2 · frets 2–5

A lydian in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 15 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the G string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	2, 4, 5	F♯, G♯, A
5 (A)	2, 4	B, C♯
4 (D)	2, 4	E, F♯
3 (G)	2, 4	A, B
2 (B)	2, 4, 5	C♯, D♯, E
1 (e)	2, 4, 5	F♯, G♯, A

Box 3 · frets 5–8

A lydian in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 12 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	5, 7	A, B
5 (A)	6, 7	D♯, E
4 (D)	6, 7	G♯, A
3 (G)	6, 8	C♯, D♯
2 (B)	5, 7	E, F♯
1 (e)	5, 7	A, B

Box 4 · frets 7–10

A lydian in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 13 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	7, 9	B, C♯
5 (A)	7, 9	E, F♯
4 (D)	7, 9	A, B
3 (G)	8, 9	D♯, E
2 (B)	7, 9, 10	F♯, G♯, A
1 (e)	7, 9	B, C♯

Box 5 · frets 9–12

A lydian in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	9, 11, 12	C♯, D♯, E
5 (A)	9, 11, 12	F♯, G♯, A
4 (D)	9, 11	B, C♯
3 (G)	9, 11	E, F♯
2 (B)	9, 10, 12	G♯, A, B
1 (e)	9, 11, 12	C♯, D♯, E

Box 6 · frets 11–14

A lydian in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 17 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the G string at fret 14.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	11, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯
5 (A)	11, 12, 14	G♯, A, B
4 (D)	11, 13, 14	C♯, D♯, E
3 (G)	11, 13, 14	F♯, G♯, A
2 (B)	12, 14	B, C♯
1 (e)	11, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯

Why it sounds like that

A lydian is A major with a raised fourth: D♯ replaces D. The pattern is W, W, W, H, W, W, H, giving intervals 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, 7. Compare with A major to hear the difference.

When to use it

Use A lydian over A major or A 5th chords when you want a dreamy, unresolved color. It fits the IV chord in E major progressions and suits film-score and fusion lines.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 5, giving a low anchor. That box covers frets 0–2 and sets up the shift to Box 2.

Common questions

What notes are in A lydian?

A lydian has A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, and G♯. The raised fourth is D♯. It is a major scale with a sharpened fourth degree.

Which chords fit A lydian?

A lydian fits A major and A 5th chords. It also works over the IV chord in E major. The ♯4 adds tension over the tonic.

How is A lydian different from A major?

A lydian raises the fourth degree from D to D♯. This creates a whole step between the third and fourth. The rest of the notes are identical.