Major mode with ♯4; bright, floating color with reduced tendency to resolve.
Lydian Mode
Parentage: 4th mode of the Major Scale
Interval Formula: W – W – W – H – W – W – H
Degrees: 1 – 2 – 3 – ♯4 – 5 – 6 – 7
Chords built on degrees: I, II, iii, ♯iv°, V, vi, vii
Structure and Function
Lydian is a major mode that differs from Ionian (the standard major scale) by one note:
the raised 4th degree (♯4).
That single alteration changes everything — it removes the half-step between 3 and 4 found in Ionian, giving Lydian its spacious, floating quality.
The raised 4th avoids direct tension with the tonic and creates a suspended, “limitless” sound — perfect for cinematic, ambient, or fusion settings.
Formula in F Lydian (from C Major):
F G A B C D E F
| Degree | Function | Interval | Chord | Nashville | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | 0 | Fmaj | 1 | Stable, bright root |
| 2 | Supertonic | +2 | Gmaj | 2 | Adds lift |
| 3 | Mediant | +4 | Amin | 3 | Major tonality anchor |
| ♯4 | Augmented 4th | +6 | Bdim | ♯4 | Defines Lydian character |
| 5 | Dominant | +7 | Cmaj | 5 | Expansive consonance |
| 6 | Submediant | +9 | Dmin | 6 | Smooth melodic flow |
| 7 | Leading tone | +11 | Emin | 7 | Gentle pull to tonic |
Sound and Character
- Mood: bright, ethereal, floating — “major without gravity.”
- Signature interval: raised 4th (♯4) — creates dreamy, open tension.
- Cadence: Lydian rarely uses V–I resolution; instead, it sustains on I for a modal, unresolved feel.
- Melodic character: smooth ascending flow, no semitone between 3 and 4, which removes tonal “pull.”
In modal jazz or film composition, Lydian often becomes the default “major color” mode for uplifting scenes without conventional cadences.
Use and Application
- Genres: film scoring, fusion, progressive rock, ambient, post-bop jazz.
- Improvisation: use over major chords with #11 extensions (Maj7♯11).
- Chord–scale pairing: Imaj7 → Lydian; a static major vamp lets the raised 4th shine.
- Compositional trick: move one step up from the key center — playing G major ideas over F creates F Lydian color.
Common Song Examples
| Song | Artist | Key/Mode | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Dreams” | Fleetwood Mac | F Lydian | Floating guitar voicings over sustained F bass |
| “Maria” | Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story) | C Lydian | Sharp 4th creates emotional lift on “Ma-ri-a” |
| “Flying in a Blue Dream” | Joe Satriani | D Lydian | Classic Lydian guitar tone with #4 melody lines |
| “Freewill” | Rush | G Lydian | Progressive rock phrasing over Lydian shifts |
| “The Simpsons Theme” | Danny Elfman | C Lydian | Quintessential Lydian orchestral sound |
| “This Is It” | Kenny Loggins | F Lydian | Pop use of raised 4 for brightness |
Summary
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| : -- | : -- |
| Parent Major Key | Starts on 4th degree |
| Tonal Center | Major |
| Signature Interval | Raised 4th (♯11) |
| Emotional Color | Uplifting, floating, modern |
| Typical Harmony | Imaj7 – IImaj7 – Vmaj7 |
| Typical Chords | Maj7, Maj9, Maj7(♯11), Add9 |
| Usage | Film, fusion, progressive, uplifting major textures |