fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON VIOLA

C♭ Lydian

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

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B
Meter:Octave per barCrotchets in 4/4Quavers in 4/4Triplets in 4/4
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 3 title C♭ Lydian
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 3 4 5 title C♭ Lydian
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

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

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
C♭G stringADGCoctave nodeoctave nodeoctave nodeoctave nodeB♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭
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 C♭ Lydian scale?

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

What chords work over C♭ Lydian?

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

How do I finger C♭ Lydian on Viola?

On bowed strings, scales train both fingering and bow technique. First-position fingerings cover most scales up to one octave; second-, third-, and fourth-position shifts unlock the higher register. The 1-2-3-4 finger pattern adapts to the half-step + whole-step positions per scale.

When would I use the Lydian scale?

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