Lydian scale · 7 notes
B Lydian scale on guitar
The B Lydian scale has 7 notes: B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯. A major scale with a ♯4: dreamy, floating and cinematic.
Notes
- B
- C♯
- D♯
- E♯
- F♯
- G♯
- A♯
Formula
1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7
Steps
W – W – W – H – W – W – H
Sound
Dreamy, bright and weightless
B Lydian on the whole fretboard
Every B Lydian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, B, is shown in red so you can always find home.
A shape to learn first
You don’t need the whole neck at once. This hand position is anchored on a root note on the 6th (low E) string, which is how most guitarists find a scale in any key.
Root on the 6th (low E) string
B at fret 7. 6th position: frets 6–10.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of B Lydian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from B, the B Lydian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 6 sharps (C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯). Compared with B major, it has E♯ (♯4) instead of E.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | root | 0 |
| 2 | C♯ | major 2nd | 2 |
| 3 | D♯ | major 3rd | 4 |
| ♯4 | E♯ | augmented 4th | 6 |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | G♯ | major 6th | 9 |
| 7 | A♯ | major 7th | 11 |
Chords in B Lydian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to B Lydian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in B Lydian.
- IBB · D♯ · F♯Bmaj7
- IIC♯C♯ · E♯ · G♯C♯7
- iiiD♯mD♯ · F♯ · A♯D♯m7
- ♯iv°E♯°E♯ · G♯ · BE♯m7♭5
- VF♯F♯ · A♯ · C♯F♯maj7
- viG♯mG♯ · B · D♯G♯m7
- viiA♯mA♯ · C♯ · E♯A♯m7
Progressions to try
- B – C♯ I–II · the Lydian lift
- B – C♯ – A♯m – B I–II–vii–I
- B – F♯ – C♯ I–V–II
How to use B Lydian
Reach for it over major 7th chords, film and game music, and progressions that move from I to a major II chord. Its sound is dreamy, bright and weightless.
Tip: Over a major chord, linger on the ♯4. It is the one note that separates Lydian from the plain major scale.
- B Lydian contains exactly the notes of F♯ major, played from its fourth note, B. See F♯ major.
Where to find B on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every B between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with B |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 7 |
| B (2nd) | 0, 12 |
| G (3rd) | 4 |
| D (4th) | 9 |
| A (5th) | 2 |
| Low E (6th) | 7 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as B Lydian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
B Lydian scale FAQ
What notes are in the B Lydian scale?
The B Lydian scale has 7 notes: B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯. Its formula is 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. It contains 6 sharps (C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯ and A♯).
What chords are in B Lydian?
Harmonising the B Lydian scale in thirds gives B (I), C♯ (II), D♯m (iii), E♯° (♯iv°), F♯ (V), G♯m (vi) and A♯m (vii).
Where do you play the B Lydian scale on guitar?
The root, B, is at fret 7 on the low E string and fret 2 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 6–10, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as B Lydian?
B Lydian contains exactly the notes of F♯ major, played from its fourth note, B.