Lydian scale · 7 notes
E Lydian scale on guitar
The E Lydian scale has 7 notes: E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯ and D♯. A major scale with a ♯4: dreamy, floating and cinematic.
Notes
- E
- F♯
- G♯
- A♯
- B
- C♯
- D♯
Formula
1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7
Steps
W – W – W – H – W – W – H
Sound
Dreamy, bright and weightless
E Lydian on the whole fretboard
Every E Lydian note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, E, 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
E at fret 0. Open position: frets 0–4.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of E Lydian as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from E, the E Lydian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 5 sharps (F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯ and D♯). Compared with E major, it has A♯ (♯4) instead of A.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root | 0 |
| 2 | F♯ | major 2nd | 2 |
| 3 | G♯ | major 3rd | 4 |
| ♯4 | A♯ | augmented 4th | 6 |
| 5 | B | perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | C♯ | major 6th | 9 |
| 7 | D♯ | major 7th | 11 |
Chords in E Lydian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to E Lydian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in E Lydian.
- IEE · G♯ · BEmaj7
- IIF♯F♯ · A♯ · C♯F♯7
- iiiG♯mG♯ · B · D♯G♯m7
- ♯iv°A♯°A♯ · C♯ · EA♯m7♭5
- VBB · D♯ · F♯Bmaj7
- viC♯mC♯ · E · G♯C♯m7
- viiD♯mD♯ · F♯ · A♯D♯m7
Progressions to try
- E – F♯ I–II · the Lydian lift
- E – F♯ – D♯m – E I–II–vii–I
- E – B – F♯ I–V–II
How to use E 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.
- E Lydian contains exactly the notes of B major, played from its fourth note, E. See B major.
Where to find E on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every E between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with E |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 0, 12 |
| B (2nd) | 5 |
| G (3rd) | 9 |
| D (4th) | 2 |
| A (5th) | 7 |
| Low E (6th) | 0, 12 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as E Lydian. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
E Lydian scale FAQ
What notes are in the E Lydian scale?
The E Lydian scale has 7 notes: E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯ and D♯. Its formula is 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. It contains 5 sharps (F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯ and D♯).
What chords are in E Lydian?
Harmonising the E Lydian scale in thirds gives E (I), F♯ (II), G♯m (iii), A♯° (♯iv°), B (V), C♯m (vi) and D♯m (vii).
Where do you play the E Lydian scale on guitar?
The root, E, is at fret 0 on the low E string and fret 7 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 0–4, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as E Lydian?
E Lydian contains exactly the notes of B major, played from its fourth note, E.