A Lydian Mode
A–B–C#–D#–E–F#–G#
A Lydian is the 4th mode of the E major scale: A–B–C#–D#–E–F#–G#. Its character: dreamy, floating, and ethereal — major with a mystical quality.
The raised 4th (#4) is the only difference from major. This one note eliminates the only 'avoid note' in the major scale, making everything sound open and weightless. On guitar, target the raised 4th (D#) in your phrases — landing on it against the root is what makes a line sound Lydian instead of plain major.
Because every mode of E major shares the same seven notes, any E major fretboard shape works for A Lydian — what changes is the note you resolve to. Loop a A vamp or a backing track that stays on A, keep resolving your phrases to A, and the Lydian color comes through. You'll hear this sound in rock and jazz.
A Lydian is mode 4 of E Major — same seven notes, resolved to A instead.
A Lydian on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the mode — blue dots are the root (A).
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | 2 | 3 | #4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | A | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# |
The highlighted D# is the raised 4th — the note that gives Lydian its sound.
Lydian vs. Major
Everything else about the two scales is identical — these are the only degrees that change.
| A major | A Lydian | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | #4 | D# |
Chords in A Lydian
The seven chords of E Major, reordered to start from A — vamping between the first two or three keeps the Lydian sound from collapsing back into the parent key.
Songs That Use the Lydian Sound
Steve Vai — “The Riddle”
Steve Vai is a Lydian devotee. The floating, otherworldly quality of his lead lines comes from emphasizing the #4 over major-sounding backing tracks.
Joe Satriani — “Flying in a Blue Dream”
The dreamy, soaring quality of the main melody comes from Lydian's raised 4th. The #4 creates a sense of floating rather than resolving.
The Simpsons — “Main Theme (Danny Elfman)”
The iconic theme is in C Lydian — the F# (raised 4th) in the melody line is what gives it that quirky, slightly off-kilter feel.
A Lydian Mode FAQ
What is the A Lydian mode?
A Lydian is the 4th mode of the E major scale — the same seven notes starting from A: A–B–C#–D#–E–F#–G#. The interval formula is R–2–3–#4–5–6–7.
What is the difference between A Lydian and A major?
One note: where A major has 4, A Lydian has #4 (D#). That single half-step is the entire difference in sound — everything else about the two scales is identical.
What chords work with A Lydian?
The seven chords of the parent E major scale, reordered to start from A: A (I), B (II), Dbm (iii), Eb° (#iv°), E (V), F#m (vi), Abm (vii). A two-chord vamp between A and B is the classic way to establish the Lydian sound without drifting back to the parent key.
What major scale has the same notes as A Lydian?
E major. A Lydian uses exactly the notes of E major starting from its 4th degree, so every E major shape on the fretboard doubles as a A Lydian shape. The same notes also spell E Ionian, F# Dorian, Ab Phrygian, B Mixolydian, Db Aeolian, and Eb Locrian.
How do I practice the A Lydian mode?
Modes live and die by harmonic context — run over a static A vamp or a drone on A, not a full progression that pulls back to the parent key. Play the E major shapes you already know, resolve every phrase to A, and lean on the raised 4th (D#). OpenFret's free Studio has a fretboard viewer and metronome for exactly this, and Guitar Quest turns scale practice into a game with real-time pitch detection.
Modes Sharing These Notes
All seven modes of E Major use the same seven notes — each one treats a different note as home.
Related Modes
Practice A Lydian with real feedback
Guitar Quest listens to your real guitar and turns scale practice into a game — run modes to battle monsters, with every note checked by pitch detection. Free in your browser, no signup needed.