Notes in the D Lydian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Tonic |
| 2 | E | Supertonic |
| 3 | F♯ | Mediant |
| ♯4 | G♯ | Subdominant |
| 5 | A | Dominant |
| 6 | B | Submediant |
| 7 | C♯ | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: D E F♯ G♯ A B C♯.
D 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 D Lydian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | D | Dmaj7 |
| II | E | E7 |
| iii | F♯m | F♯m7 |
| iv° | G♯° | G♯ø7 |
| V | A | Amaj7 |
| vi | Bm | Bm7 |
| vii | C♯m | C♯m7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: A Major, which has exactly the same notes as D Lydian.
How to practise the D 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 D Lydian scale?
The notes of the D Lydian scale are D E F♯ G♯ A B C♯.
What is the formula for the D 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 D Lydian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: D, E, F♯m, G♯°, A, Bm, C♯m.
More D scales
D Major, D Natural Minor, D Harmonic Minor, D Melodic Minor, D Dorian, D Phrygian, D Mixolydian, D Locrian, D Major Pentatonic, D Minor Pentatonic, D Blues, D Lydian Dominant, D Altered, D Whole Tone, D Dorian ♭2, D Lydian Augmented, D Mixolydian ♭6, D Locrian ♯2, D Phrygian Dominant, D Hungarian Minor, D Double Harmonic, D Diminished (W–H), D Diminished (H–W), D Bebop Dominant, D 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.