fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON PIANO

A Lydian

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

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

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

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title A Lydian Verovio
Keyboard
ABEABEABEAC♯D♯F♯G♯C♯D♯F♯G♯C♯D♯F♯G♯
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the A Lydian scale?

The A Lydian scale uses the notes A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯ (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 A to get the A Lydian scale.

What chords work over A Lydian?

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

How do I finger A Lydian on Piano?

On piano, scales typically use a 1-2-3 / 1-2-3-4 thumb-under pattern for white-key scales. Black-key scales (F♯, G♭, etc.) shift the thumb-under positions onto white keys for ergonomic clearance. Hanon Exercise No. 1 and Czerny Op. 599 No. 1 work through the canonical pattern.

When would I use the Lydian scale?

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