Lydian Mode

This is a preview of the educational program A Jazz Improvisation Almanac which is under development for the Outside Shore Music Online School. Feel free to browse this preview and learn what you can from it. For a more completed product, though, check out the original freely browsable jazz textbook, A Jazz Improvisation Primer.

The fourth mode of the major scale is called the lydian mode. It is similar to the major scale, except that it has a raised fourth. Like the major scale, then, it generates a major seventh chord:

[EXAMPLE]

The lydian mode thus may be used over major seventh chords. For example, C lydian may be used over Cmaj7:

[EXAMPLE]

The raised fourth is not as dissonant over a major chord as the natural fourth of the major scale, although it is somewhat exotic sounding. For this reason, many improvisors prefer using the lydian to the major scale over major chords, even though it introduces a non-diatonic note when used over a I chord:

[EXAMPLE]

Since the lydian is the fourth mode of the major scale, it is diatonic when used over a IV chord:

[EXAMPLE]

For this reason, the lydian mode is especially common over IV chords.

Note that the raised fourth is the sharp eleventh of the corresponding chord, so the lydian mode is always the preferred scale to use over maj7#11 chords, regardless of the chord function:

[EXAMPLE]

Copyright 2000 Outside Shore Music
Authored by Marc Sabatella

Lydian Mode