Notes in the B Lydian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Tonic |
| 2 | C♯ | Supertonic |
| 3 | D♯ | Mediant |
| ♯4 | E♯ | Subdominant |
| 5 | F♯ | Dominant |
| 6 | G♯ | Submediant |
| 7 | A♯ | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯.
B 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 B Lydian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | B | Bmaj7 |
| II | C♯ | C♯7 |
| iii | D♯m | D♯m7 |
| iv° | E♯° | E♯ø7 |
| V | F♯ | F♯maj7 |
| vi | G♯m | G♯m7 |
| vii | A♯m | A♯m7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: F♯ Major, which has exactly the same notes as B Lydian.
How to practise the B 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 B Lydian scale?
The notes of the B Lydian scale are B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯.
What is the formula for the B 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 B Lydian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: B, C♯, D♯m, E♯°, F♯, G♯m, A♯m.
More B scales
B Major, B Natural Minor, B Harmonic Minor, B Melodic Minor, B Dorian, B Phrygian, B Mixolydian, B Locrian, B Major Pentatonic, B Minor Pentatonic, B Blues, B Lydian Dominant, B Altered, B Dorian ♭2, B Mixolydian ♭6, B Locrian ♯2, B Phrygian Dominant, B Hungarian Minor, B Double Harmonic, B Diminished (W–H), B Diminished (H–W), B Bebop Dominant, B 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.