Lydian Scale

The Lydian scale is a major scale with a sharp 4th. Raise one note of the major scale by a half step and the whole sound lifts off the ground: bright, open and a little unresolved, like it's floating above the chord. It's the sound of film scores, dreamy pop, fusion and instrumental rock ballads.

Everything in this chapter is in G Lydian (G A B C# D E F#), the same notes as D major starting from G.

• Formula, patterns and sound (free): the formula, five positions plus a three-notes-per-string shape, where the scale is used and how to move it to any key.
• Exercises: Position 1 in sixteenths, a three-note sequence in triplets, diatonic 3rds and a line that slides from Position 1 up to Position 3.
• Soloing: the G to A/G vamp that brings out the #4, and two licks that lean on the C# and resolve it.

Learn to hear the C# against G. Once you can, you'll spot Lydian in soundtracks everywhere.