Lydian

The Lydian mode belongs to the IV chord!

Lydian is the 4th mode and consequentially used over chord IV.

The scale sounds as if it wants to go somewhere, therefore many songs hold the IV chord back in parts.

If used as the first chord in a bridge or M8 that section then feels as if it “takes off”.

Do not underestimate the importance of being able to solo in Lydian as most songs use the IV chord.

Character: Lydian is often referred to as having an eclectic sound, or as an Ionian scale that “wants to go somewhere”

Soloing: Use Lydian when you want a happy sound that strives somewhere, and whenever you play over the IV chord

Practice Lydian like this:

1. Chord shape
2. Major pentatonic
3. add #4
4. Major pentatonic
5. add 7
6. Major pentatonic
7. Lydian
8. Chord shape

To see the Lydian mode move around the guitar neck in different keys and shapes, use Chordacus.

Lydian Mode History

The Lydian mode is the only mode with a sharp interval inside it. The sharpened interval is a #4, this means that you can not play sus4 chords.

However, just like the IV chord shouldn’t have a dom7 extension (the Blues), it should be maj7, the Lydian scale is often heard manipulated into both sus4 and dom7 in popular music.

Find out more about the Lydian mode and its history from Wikipedia.

Learn more about the modal rules and how to best break them in the Guitar Conspiracy. To teach your hands the mode, follow the video guitar lesson links above.