Chord & FretLydian (F)
Take the major scale and raise its 4th note a half step: that is Lydian, the 4th mode of Ionian. The raised 4th — the #4 — erases the major scale's one point of friction and opens everything up, as if the music were floating just above the ground. That is why it is a favorite color in film scores and jazz, especially over major chords with the #11 tension, which simply means that same note played inside the chord.
Example: F – G – A – B – C – D – EFormula: 1 – 2 – 3 – #4 – 5 – 6 – 7In the formula, the numbers are degrees — positions counted in the reference major scale; "b" lowers a half step and "#" raises one.
Family: The seven modes of the major scale.
The diatonic modes share the same pattern of tones and semitones but reorganize the center. To sound modal you have to reinforce the center and the characteristic degree — if the music keeps resolving to C, the ear hears C major, not D Dorian.
Chords in the harmonic field
These are the seven chords born from this scale — one built on each of its notes. Put another way: the set of chords that sounds naturally "inside" the scale. See the harmonic field of every key →
Fmaj7G7Am7Bm7b5Cmaj7Dm7Em7The same scale on all four instruments
In the diagrams, each dot carries its scale degree — 1 is the tonic, highlighted.
One box per instrument is just the doorway into Lydian. In Chord & Fret, you press play and watch each note light up on the diagram the instant it sounds; switch the dot labels between degrees, note names and fingers; and run it up, down or in a full round trip. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. 100% offline. Open in Chord & Fret →