Notes in the C Lydian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Tonic |
| 2 | D | Supertonic |
| 3 | E | Mediant |
| ♯4 | F♯ | Subdominant |
| 5 | G | Dominant |
| 6 | A | Submediant |
| 7 | B | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C D E F♯ G A B.
C 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 C Lydian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | C | Cmaj7 |
| II | D | D7 |
| iii | Em | Em7 |
| iv° | F♯° | F♯ø7 |
| V | G | Gmaj7 |
| vi | Am | Am7 |
| vii | Bm | Bm7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: G Major, which has exactly the same notes as C Lydian.
How to practise the C 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 C Lydian scale?
The notes of the C Lydian scale are C D E F♯ G A B.
What is the formula for the C 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 C Lydian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: C, D, Em, F♯°, G, Am, Bm.
More C scales
C Major, C Natural Minor, C Harmonic Minor, C Melodic Minor, C Dorian, C Phrygian, C Mixolydian, C Locrian, C Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, C Blues, C Lydian Dominant, C Altered, C Whole Tone, C Dorian ♭2, C Lydian Augmented, C Mixolydian ♭6, C Locrian ♯2, C Phrygian Dominant, C Hungarian Minor, C Double Harmonic, C Diminished (W–H), C Diminished (H–W), C Bebop Dominant, C 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.