In this lesson we are going to take a look at the Lydian mode.The lydian mode is the 4th mode of the Major scale.To find the Lydian mode just start on the 4th note of any Major scales. For example if we look at the C Major scale we will find the notes C D E F G A B C.Now by starting on the 4th note of that scale weīll get F G A B C D E F.So by shifting the tonal center from C to F we get F Lydian.Another example would be the D major scale D E F# G A B C# D If we begin on the 4th note (G) here we will get G A B C# D E F# G.You may think that itīs just the same scales starting on a different note and therefore you only need to learn on scale and thatīs all.But thatīs not true.Because the tonal center change we will get a completely different sounds by using modes.Some modes sound happy,other sound sad and some even sound alittle scary....The mode we are covering in this lesson is a more happy sounding mode because it has a major 3 in it.
E||--------------------------|| B||--------------------------|| G||--------------------------|| D||--------------------1--2--|| A||-----------0--2--4--------|| E||--0--2--4-----------------||Now if we start this scale on the A note we will get A lydian.
E||--------------------------|| B||--------------------------|| G||--------------------1--2--|| D||-----------1--2--4--------|| A||--0--2--4-----------------|| E||--------------------------||If you listen to these two examples you wonīt hear how different the really are,because itīs just a E major scale starting on a different note.To see and hear the real different between the Major scale and the Lydian mode we have to compare it to the A major scale. Here is the major scale (2 octaves).
E||--------------------------|-----------------4--5----||
B||--------------------------|-----------5--7----------||
G||--------------------------|--4--6--7----------------||
D||-----------------4--6--7--|-------------------------||
A||--------4--5--7-----------|-------------------------||
E||--5--7--------------------|-------------------------||
Now listen to the A lydian mode,
E||--------------------------|-----------------4--5----|| B||--------------------------|--------4--5--7----------|| G||--------------------------|--4--6-------------------|| D||-----------------4--6--7--|-------------------------|| A||--------4--6--7-----------|-------------------------|| E||--5--7--------------------|-------------------------||If you look at the mode now you can see that the 4 note is raised a half step.So to make a Lydian scale from any Major scale you just have to raise the 4th note a half step.In this example we raised the 4th note from D to D#. Listen to this short example of a melody built around the Lydian mode.
E||--------------------2--|----4---------------|
B||----------4----5-------|----5----5----------|
G||-----6-----------------|---------6----------|
D||-----------------------|--------------------|
A||-----------------------|--------------------|
E||-----------------------|--------------------|
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--12--7----9------7----|--7----9--9------------||
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