F SHARP LYDIAN MODE

‘F Sharp Lydian’ is the 4th mode of the C sharp major scale. The notes in F# Lydian are:

F# – G# – A# – B# – C# – D# – E#

If you have read the post on understanding the lydian mode, you will know that the lydian mode contains a ‘sharp 4′ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 4th mode of the major scale (derivative approach). Because the ‘sharp 4′ is the only difference between the lydian mode and the major scale, it is a very simple mode to analyze. Let’s briefly look at how to construct F# lydian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

F# Major has the following notes:

F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E#

If we ‘raise’ the 4th note, we get the following:

F# – G# – A# – B# – C# – D# – E#

Derivative Approach:

F# is the 4th note of the C# major scale:

C# – D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B#

If we play the C# major scale and start on the 4th note we get the following:

F# – G# – A# – B# – C# – D# – E#

Let’s look at the F# lydian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:

Positions Along the Fretboard:

Since none of the notes in F# lydian can be played as an open string, there is said to be no ‘open position’ for F# lydian. However, we can of course look at the 5 different positions along the fretboard.

Let’s look at F# lydian in the 1st position (lowest fret is 1)

Now let’s look at F# lydian in the 2nd position (lowest fret is 2)

Now let’s look at F# lydian in the 5th position (lowest fret is 5)

Now let’s look at F# lydian in the 8th position (lowest fret is 8)

Finally, let’s look at F# lydian in the 9th position (lowest fret is 9)

That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of F# lydian along the guitar fretboard.

For an in depth explanation of the lydian mode, check out lydian mode explained.