Notes in the A♭ Lydian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | Tonic |
| 2 | B♭ | Supertonic |
| 3 | C | Mediant |
| ♯4 | D | Subdominant |
| 5 | E♭ | Dominant |
| 6 | F | Submediant |
| 7 | G | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G.
A♭ Lydian scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – W – H – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7.
Chords in the A♭ Lydian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | A♭ | A♭maj7 |
| II | B♭ | B♭7 |
| iii | Cm | Cm7 |
| iv° | D° | Dø7 |
| V | E♭ | E♭maj7 |
| vi | Fm | Fm7 |
| vii | Gm | Gm7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: E♭ Major, which has exactly the same notes as A♭ Lydian.
How to practise the A♭ Lydian scale
Learn each mode by its characteristic note: the one that makes it different from the major or minor scale it most resembles. Play a drone on the tonic while you play the scale to hear its colour.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the A♭ Lydian scale?
The notes of the A♭ Lydian scale are A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G.
What is the formula for the A♭ Lydian scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – W – H – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7.
What chords are in the A♭ Lydian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: A♭, B♭, Cm, D°, E♭, Fm, Gm.
More A♭ scales
A♭ Major, A♭ Natural Minor, A♭ Harmonic Minor, A♭ Melodic Minor, A♭ Dorian, A♭ Mixolydian, A♭ Major Pentatonic, A♭ Minor Pentatonic, A♭ Lydian Dominant, A♭ Whole Tone, A♭ Lydian Augmented, A♭ Mixolydian ♭6, A♭ Hungarian Minor, A♭ Bebop Dominant, A♭ Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.