G Lydian mode
G Lydian mode is G – A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯, with C♯ and F♯. Formula 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. Play it, then slow the tempo until every note is clear.
The notes, one step at a time
The step pattern is W W W H W W H (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between C♯–D and F♯–G.
| Degree | Note | Interval from G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | root | |
| 2 | A | major second | |
| 3 | B | major third | |
| ♯4 | C♯ | tritone | |
| 5 | D | perfect fifth | |
| 6 | E | major sixth | |
| 7 | F♯ | major seventh |
How the Lydian mode sounds
Lydian is a major mode with a raised 4th. The C♯ gives it a floating, dreamy lift that film composers use for wonder and flight.
Over a G chord, let C♯ ring: it's the raised 4th, and it's what makes the mode shimmer.
Compared with G major scale, G Lydian mode has C♯ where the other has C; the other six notes are shared. Hear G major scale and compare.
G Lydian mode uses the same seven notes as D major, starting from G instead of D. Same notes, different home note: what makes it Lydian is playing it over a G bass or chord.
Where your hands go
On the piano it uses two black keys (C♯ and F♯) and five white.
The guitar box starts with the root at the 3rd fret of the low E string and spans frets 1–7: 18 notes, low string to high.
Chords built on each note
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get 7 chords. These are the chords that fit G Lydian mode; the ones that differ from the D major set are what give the mode its color. Tap to hear each one.
G Lydian mode shares all its notes with C♯ Locrian (starting on the 4th note, C♯), D major (starting on the 5th note, D), E Dorian (starting on the 6th note, E), F♯ Phrygian (starting on the 7th note, F♯), A Mixolydian (starting on the 2nd note, A) and B natural minor (starting on the 3rd note, B). Which one you hear depends on which note the music treats as home.
G Lydian mode across the fretboard
Anchor points for G: low E string fret 3 and 15, A string fret 10. Most guitarists learn it in five overlapping positions; on the low E string they begin around frets 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12. Hold a major chord and lean on the ♯4 to hear why film composers reach for it.
On the piano, G Lydian mode uses 2 black keys (C♯ and F♯) and 5 white.
A good drill once the scale is under your fingers: play it in thirds, skipping one note each time. Here that's G–B, A–C♯, B–D, C♯–E, D–F♯, E–G, F♯–A.
Drills for G Lydian
Running a scale straight up and down only teaches the order. These patterns use the same 7 notes and train your ear and fingers to jump around inside G Lydian mode.
- Up in threes: G A B · A B C♯ · B C♯ D · C♯ D E · D E F♯ · E F♯ G.
- Land on C♯: G C♯ G C♯ G: the ♯4 floats where major has a plain 4th.
Close relatives of G Lydian mode
Lydian mode in every key
G Lydian mode: questions
What are the notes of the G Lydian mode?
G, A, B, C♯, D, E and F♯, then G again at the octave. Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7.
How many sharps or flats are in the G Lydian mode?
Two: C♯ and F♯.
What chords are in the G Lydian mode?
Stacking thirds on each note gives G (I), A (II), Bm (iii), C♯dim (iv°), D (V), Em (vi) and F♯m (vii).
What's the difference between G Lydian mode and G major scale?
C♯ in G Lydian; C in the other. Everything else is the same.
Which major scale has the same notes as G Lydian mode?
D major. G Lydian is D major played from its 4th note, G.
Generated from the step pattern 2-2-2-1-2-2-1 and checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.