fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON BASS GUITAR

D Lydian

Major with a raised 4th — the bright, floating mode. Think Simpsons theme.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title D Lydian Verovio
Tuning
FretboardTuning: BEAD
35791215BEADBC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABDEF♯G♯ABC♯DE
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
Compare with
Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D Lydian scale?

The D Lydian scale uses the notes D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Lydian scale formula?

The Lydian scale follows the interval pattern W W W H W W H, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on D to get the D Lydian scale.

What chords work over D Lydian?

Lydian works over maj7♯11 chords and modal-jazz maj7 vamps. The bright film-score colour.

How do I finger D Lydian on Bass Guitar?

On bass, scales follow the same position-pattern logic as guitar but with two-notes-per-string most often. Walking-bass-line construction draws on chord-tone-arpeggiation through the scale; see /walking-bass for the standalone surface (once it ships).

When would I use the Lydian scale?

Major with a raised 4th — the bright, floating mode. Think Simpsons theme.