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