Lydian · F · Guitar
The F Lydian scale is F G A B C D E — formula 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7, step pattern W–W–W–H–W–W–H. Use it over Fmaj7♯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 fretboard in standard tuning; press play to hear it on a synthesized guitar while each note lights up, or tap any fret to sound that note.
Visualizer
Guitar · standard tuning
Piano
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) in the position starting at fret 1. “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 F | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | G | major 2nd (2 semitones) | W |
| 3 | A | major 3rd (4 semitones) | W |
| ♯4 | B | tritone (6 semitones) | H |
| 5 | C | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | W |
| 6 | D | major 6th (9 semitones) | W |
| 7 | E | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Fmaj7♯11 (F – A – C – E). Use it for: major-seventh chords that are not the tonic — the IV chord, or any maj7♯11.
Common questions
F G A B C D E. As scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. It has 7 notes.
F Lydian fits Fmaj7♯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).
Start on the root F on the low E string at fret 1, and play the one-octave position shown: E-string fret 1, E-string fret 3, E-string fret 5, A-string fret 2, A-string fret 3, A-string fret 5, D-string fret 2, D-string fret 3. Every F on the neck is a root, so the same shape works in every position where the notes are marked.
Keep going
Same scale on piano · all Lydian pages: Lydian hub · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from F