Map it slowly
Locate C, D, E, G, A, B on white keys and F♯ on black keys. Try each hand separately before playing together; choose a fingering that keeps the wrist relaxed, without stretching between notes.
Lydian · C · Piano
C Lydian scale on piano
The C Lydian scale is C D E F♯ G A B — formula 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7, step pattern W–W–W–H–W–W–H. Use it over Cmaj7♯11: it is the scale for major-seventh chords that are not the tonic — the IV chord, or any maj7♯11. Below, every note is marked on the two-octave keyboard; press play to hear it on a synthesized piano while each note lights up, or tap any key to sound that note.
Visualizer
C Lydian on the keyboard.
Piano
Guitar · standard tuning
RootChord tone (1 3 5 7)Scale toneBeing played
Tempo100 bpm
Show
Sound
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass). “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Your next 10 minutes
Make C Lydian part of your playing
Make a short phrase
Play C – D – E as two eighth notes and a quarter note, then rest for two beats. Answer with B – A – G. Use the space to hear the phrase before repeating it.
Hear it in context
Hold or repeat C as a drone. Play each note of C Lydian above it, pausing on D and B. Compare their tension with the root. Then improvise using only three notes and two rhythms.
Listen for this: major-seventh chords that are not the tonic — the IV chord, or any maj7♯11. Treat the scale as a palette, not a requirement to play every note. If a note clashes with a chord or melody, resolve it deliberately or leave it out.
Understand the sound
C Lydian: from a pattern to a musical choice
Hear F♯ in context
The raised fourth opens the space above the major third. Compare its floating quality with the perfect fourth of the major scale.
In C Lydian, degree ♯4 is F♯. Play C, then F♯, then C again. Sing the middle note before touching the instrument.
A mistake to avoid
A raised fourth is a colour, not a requirement. The melody can still call for a natural fourth.
Slow the player to 60 bpm. Record one short phrase and check whether its ending sounds deliberate. Increase the tempo only when you can repeat it without losing the pulse.
C Lydian versus C Major
Shared pitches: C, D, E, G, A, B. Pitches in C Lydian outside the comparison scale: F♯. Compare the sounds over the same root, at the same tempo.
Play C Major on piano →Your piano checkpoint
The black-key pitches in this collection are F♯. Use the groups of two and three black keys to orient yourself. Play C and D with each hand separately before combining the hands.
Before moving on, close the diagram and name the notes: C · D · E · F♯ · G · A · B. Then play a two-bar phrase from memory and leave two bars of silence.
On guitar
The same scale on the fretboard.
Reference
C Lydian — notes, degrees & intervals.
| Degree | Note | Interval from C | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | D | major 2nd (2 semitones) | W |
| 3 | E | major 3rd (4 semitones) | W |
| ♯4 | F♯ | augmented 4th (6 semitones) | H |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | W |
| 6 | A | major 6th (9 semitones) | W |
| 7 | B | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Cmaj7♯11 (C – E – G – B). Use it for: major-seventh chords that are not the tonic — the IV chord, or any maj7♯11.
Take it to the bandstand.Practice Radio streams endless changes to play C Lydian over through all twelve keys, with the chord and scale shown live — plus ear-training and call & response modes.
▶ Open Practice RadioCommon questions
C Lydian FAQ.
What are the notes of the C Lydian scale?
C D E F♯ G A B. As scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. It has 7 notes.
What chords does C Lydian work over?
C Lydian fits Cmaj7♯11 and, more generally, major-seventh chords that are not the tonic — the IV chord, or any maj7♯11.
What is the formula of the Lydian scale?
1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 — the step pattern from the root is W W W H W W H (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do I play C Lydian on piano?
Play C D E F♯ G A B C ascending from the root, then descend. The keyboard above shows every root in gold, chord tones outlined in amber and the remaining scale tones in teal; use the Play button to hear the fingering tempo.
Keep going
Lydian in every other key.
Same scale on guitar · all Lydian pages: Lydian hub · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from C