Learn the D Lydian scale — notes, intervals, chords, modes, and more.
The D Lydian scale contains the following notes:
D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯The scale degrees of the D Lydian scale are:
1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, 7| Scale Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | D |
| 2 | E |
| 3 | F♯ |
| ♯4 | G♯ |
| 5 | A |
| 6 | B |
| 7 | C♯ |
The D Lydian scale uses the interval pattern W, W, W, H, W, W, H
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| D | E | W |
| E | F♯ | W |
| F♯ | G♯ | W |
| G♯ | A | H |
| A | B | W |
| B | C♯ | W |
| C♯ | D | H |
| Scale Degree | Note | Interval from D |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Perfect Unison |
| 2 | E | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F♯ | Major 3rd |
| ♯4 | G♯ | Augmented 4th |
| 5 | A | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | B | Major 6th |
| 7 | C♯ | Major 7th |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | D | D, F♯, A |
| II | E | E, G♯, B |
| iii | F♯m | F♯, A, C♯ |
| iv° | G♯dim | G♯, B, D |
| V | A | A, C♯, E |
| vi | Bm | B, D, F♯ |
| vii | C♯m | C♯, E, G♯ |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Imaj7 | Dmaj7 | D, F♯, A, C♯ |
| II7 | E7 | E, G♯, B, D |
| iii7 | F♯m7 | F♯, A, C♯, E |
| ivø7 | G♯m7♭5 | G♯, B, D, F♯ |
| Vmaj7 | Amaj7 | A, C♯, E, G♯ |
| vi7 | Bm7 | B, D, F♯, A |
| vii7 | C♯m7 | C♯, E, G♯, B |
The modes of D Lydian use the same notes but start on different scale degrees.
| Mode | Starting note | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A Ionian | A | A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ |
| B Dorian | B | B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A |
| C♯ Phrygian | C♯ | C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B |
| D Lydian | D | D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ |
| E Mixolydian | E | E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D |
| F♯ Aeolian | F♯ | F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E |
| G♯ Locrian | G♯ | G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ |
D Lydian is the 4th mode of the A major scale. Both share the same 7 notes — Lydian starts on the 4th degree (D) instead of the root (A).
The only difference is the 4th degree. D Lydian has an augmented 4th (G♯), while D major has a perfect 4th (G). That raised 4th is what gives Lydian its signature dreamy, floating quality compared to the grounded sound of major.