Lydian · C · Piano
The C Lydian scale is C D E F♯ G A B — formula 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7, step pattern W–W–W–H–W–W–H. Use it over Cmaj7♯11: it is the scale for major-seventh chords that are not the tonic — the IV chord, or any maj7♯11. Below, every note is marked on the two-octave keyboard; press play to hear it on a synthesized piano while each note lights up, or tap any key to sound that note.
Visualizer
Piano
Guitar · standard tuning
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass). “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Reference
| Degree | Note | Interval from C | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | D | major 2nd (2 semitones) | W |
| 3 | E | major 3rd (4 semitones) | W |
| ♯4 | F♯ | tritone (6 semitones) | H |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | W |
| 6 | A | major 6th (9 semitones) | W |
| 7 | B | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Cmaj7♯11 (C – E – G – B). Use it for: major-seventh chords that are not the tonic — the IV chord, or any maj7♯11.
Common questions
C D E F♯ G A B. As scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. It has 7 notes.
C Lydian fits Cmaj7♯11 and, more generally, major-seventh chords that are not the tonic — the IV chord, or any maj7♯11.
1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 — the step pattern from the root is W W W H W W H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Play C D E F♯ G A B C ascending from the root, then descend. The keyboard above shows every root in gold, chord tones outlined in amber and the remaining scale tones in teal; use the Play button to hear the fingering tempo.
Keep going
Same scale on guitar · all Lydian pages: Lydian hub · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from C