B Lydian Mode
B–C#–D#–E#–F#–G#–A#
B Lydian is the 4th mode of the F# major scale: B–C#–D#–E#–F#–G#–A#. 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 (E#) in your phrases — landing on it against the root is what makes a line sound Lydian instead of plain major.
Because every mode of F# major shares the same seven notes, any F# major fretboard shape works for B Lydian — what changes is the note you resolve to. Loop a B vamp or a backing track that stays on B, keep resolving your phrases to B, and the Lydian color comes through. You'll hear this sound in rock and jazz.
B Lydian is mode 4 of F# Major — same seven notes, resolved to B instead.
B Lydian on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the mode — blue dots are the root (B).
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | 2 | 3 | #4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | B | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# |
The highlighted E# 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.
| B major | B Lydian | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | #4 | E# |
Chords in B Lydian
The seven chords of F# Major, reordered to start from B — 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.
B Lydian Mode FAQ
What is the B Lydian mode?
B Lydian is the 4th mode of the F# major scale — the same seven notes starting from B: B–C#–D#–E#–F#–G#–A#. The interval formula is R–2–3–#4–5–6–7.
What is the difference between B Lydian and B major?
One note: where B major has 4, B Lydian has #4 (E#). That single half-step is the entire difference in sound — everything else about the two scales is identical.
What chords work with B Lydian?
The seven chords of the parent F# major scale, reordered to start from B: B (I), Db (II), Ebm (iii), F° (#iv°), F# (V), Abm (vi), Bbm (vii). A two-chord vamp between B and Db is the classic way to establish the Lydian sound without drifting back to the parent key.
What major scale has the same notes as B Lydian?
F# major. B Lydian uses exactly the notes of F# major starting from its 4th degree, so every F# major shape on the fretboard doubles as a B Lydian shape. The same notes also spell F# Ionian, Ab Dorian, Bb Phrygian, Db Mixolydian, Eb Aeolian, and F Locrian.
How do I practice the B Lydian mode?
Modes live and die by harmonic context — run over a static B vamp or a drone on B, not a full progression that pulls back to the parent key. Play the F# major shapes you already know, resolve every phrase to B, and lean on the raised 4th (E#). 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 F# Major use the same seven notes — each one treats a different note as home.
Related Modes
Practice B 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.