Bb Lydian: Fretboard Guide
The Bb Lydian scale contains Bb, C, D, E, F, G and A. E natural is the raised 4th, and it is the note that turns Bb major into a brighter, more open sound.
The nearest root to the nut is the 1st fret of the A string, and the 6th fret of the low E string gives a second place to start. F major shares the notes, so try an F chord underneath. A look at playing scales over chords shows how to use that.
Play the Bb lydian scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the Bb lydian scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 1 | Root | 0 |
| C | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| D | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| E | #4 | Tritone | 6 |
| F | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| G | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| A | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
Bb lydian scale notes:
How the lydian scale is built:
The lydian scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7, which gives the step pattern W-W-W-H-W-W-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 4 of the Major Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
Bb Lydian Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the Bb lydian scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the lydian scale, starting from a different degree.
The lydian scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
