stringery

F♯ lydian

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

Floating, magical, wide-eyed.

Root position3 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. F♯RW
  2. G♯2W
  3. A♯3W
  4. B♯♯4H
  5. C♯5W
  6. D♯6W
  7. E♯7H

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 neckF♯ lydian

12345GCEA57101223♯4567R♯4567R23♯47R23♯4563♯4567R2
12345GCEA57101223♯4567R♯4567R23♯47R23♯4563♯4567R2

Position 3 is outlined, frets 6 to 9. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The F♯ lydian key

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

  1. F♯I
  2. G♯II
  3. A♯miii
  4. B♯dimiv°
  5. C♯V
  6. D♯mvi
  7. E♯mvii

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • D♭ major

    Same notes, but home is D♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • B♭ minor

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

  • E♭ dorian

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

  • A♭ mixolydian

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

  • F phrygian

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