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 | Amaj7 |
| II | B | B7 |
| iii | C♯m | C♯m7 |
| iv° | D♯° | D♯ø7 |
| V | E | Emaj7 |
| vi | F♯m | F♯m7 |
| vii | G♯m | G♯m7 |
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, C♯m, D♯°, E, F♯m, G♯m.
More A scales
A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), 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.