B flat Lydian mode

The B flat Lydian mode has 7 notes: B♭, C, D, E, F, G and A. Its formula is 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 and it is built with the steps W W W H W W H.

Notes, formula and steps

The intervals from B♭ are root (B♭), major 2nd (C), major 3rd (D), augmented 4th (E), perfect 5th (F), major 6th (G) and major 7th (A). Write down the step pattern W W W H W W H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = a step and a half): it is the fingerprint of the Lydian mode, whatever the starting note. This scale has 1 flat: B♭.

How to play the B flat Lydian mode on piano

Start on B♭ and play B♭, C, D, E, F, G and A going up, then come back down. Say the note names out loud while you play: it links the sound, the keys and the names. Practise hands separately first, slowly with the metronome, then speed up.

How to play the B flat Lydian mode on guitar

On guitar, the root B♭ sits at fret 6 on the low E string and fret 1 on the A string. Start from one of these roots and play the notes of the fretboard map above in order, one string after another. The whole-neck view shows every place the B flat Lydian mode appears, so you can connect the positions instead of staying in one box.

Chords in the B flat Lydian mode

Stacking every other note of the scale gives one chord per degree: B♭, C, Dm, Edim, F, Gm and Am. These are the chords you can combine to write a progression that stays in the B flat Lydian mode.

Relative and parallel scales

The B flat Lydian mode shares its notes with the F major scale: same notes, different starting point and a different mood. Its parallel scale, on the same root, is the B flat natural minor scale. Switching between them is a classic way to change colour without changing key.

About the Lydian mode

The brightest mode: a major scale with a raised 4th. The ♯4 floats above the major chord instead of falling to the 3rd, so Lydian sounds dreamy, magical and weightless. It is the sound of film scores in moments of wonder or flight, and of the maj7♯11 chords of jazz and fusion.

Film and game music, progressive rock, jazz and fusion. Play it over a maj7 chord that does not need to resolve, especially the IVmaj7 of a major key, or over the signature Lydian vamp I to II, two major chords a whole step apart (for example Cmaj7 to D). Over a maj7♯11 chord it is the natural choice.

On guitar, play a major-scale fingering and raise the 4th by one fret, then loop I to II and target the ♯4 on strong beats. On piano, the white keys from F to F give F Lydian: hold F major or Fmaj7 in the left hand and let the B ring on top. Compare it with the major scale on the same root to hear the difference.

The 4th mode of the major scale: formula 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7, steps W W W H W W H. Lydian differs from the major scale by one note, the raised 4th. Its parent major scale starts a perfect fifth above (F Lydian has the notes of C major). Harmonised, its II chord is major, a dominant 7 as a seventh chord.

Related

• F major scale
• B flat natural minor scale
• B flat major scale
• B flat minor pentatonic scale
• B flat major pentatonic scale
• B flat blues scale
• B flat Dorian mode
• B flat Mixolydian mode
• B♭
• B♭sus2
• B♭maj7

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