stringery

B♭ lydian

Major with a raised 4th: film scores and dream pop. Major 7 family

Floating, magical, wide-eyed.

Root position5 of 5

571012

Square: the root. In colour: the sharp 4th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. B♭RW
  2. C2W
  3. D3W
  4. E♯4H
  5. F5W
  6. G6W
  7. A7H

The sharp 4th lifts the most stable-sounding note of the major scale, so the whole scale seems to hover.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckB♭ lydian

12345GCEA57101267R23♯45623♯4567R2♯4567R23♯47R23♯4567
12345GCEA57101267R23♯45623♯4567R2♯4567R23♯47R23♯4567

Position 5 is outlined, frets 10 to 12. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The B♭ lydian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. B♭I
  2. CII
  3. Dmiii
  4. Edimiv°
  5. FV
  6. Gmvi
  7. Amvii

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • F major

    Same notes, but home is F: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • D minor

    Same notes, but home is D: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • G dorian

    Same notes, but home is G: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • C mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is C: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • A phrygian

    Same notes, but home is A: dark, spanish, menacing.