B Lydian Scale on Guitar — 2 Shapes to Play the Whole Neck
B Lydian is one of the seven modes of the major scale — on guitar its notes are B C# D# E# F# G# A#, built from the formula 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7. Computed live for this exact root and scale, Fretprism finds 2 repeating shapes — the small pattern set you actually need to play it across the whole neck.
B Lydian Scale Notes
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | 1 |
| 2 | C# | 2 |
| 3 | D# | 3 |
| 4 | E# | #4 |
| 5 | F# | 5 |
| 6 | G# | 6 |
| 7 | A# | 7 |
B Lydian Formula
Degree formula: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7
Whole – Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Whole – Half
B Lydian on the Guitar Fretboard
The notes of Lydian repeat across the guitar fretboard in connected positions. Use the shape below to identify root notes, scale degrees, and neighboring shapes.
- Frets 4–9 (span 5 frets)
- Lowest note B, highest note A#
- 2 B root notes, on the E string (fret 7), G string (fret 4)
How to practice this shape
- Start on the root — B at fret 7 on the E string. Play up to the highest note in the shape, then back down, staying inside frets 4–9.
- Your hand shifts 2 times as you cross strings: E→A (-1), D→G (-2). Those crossings — not the notes — are what this position is really asking you to learn.
- Once it feels automatic, move on to the next of the 2 shapes — together they cover the whole neck, and the same pattern repeats from there.
What Gives B Lydian Its Sound?
The characteristic sound of B Lydian comes from its augmented 4th.
Diatonic chords
These are the 7 chords built from B Lydian's own notes — the ones that will sound like they belong when you're writing a progression, backing a melody, or jamming in this key. The Roman numeral shows each chord's role in the key: capital for major, lowercase for minor, ° for diminished, + for augmented. Not every scale produces a clean chord on every degree — where that happens, we show it honestly instead of forcing a name that doesn't fit.
B Lydian Scale Relationships
- Parent scale: F# Major (Ionian)
B Lydian FAQ
B Lydian contains the notes B, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#.
B Lydian is a mode of F# Major (Ionian).
B Lydian has a natural (major) 3rd degree, giving it a major character. It's derived from F# Major (Ionian).
The diatonic chords in B Lydian are B, C#, D#m, E#dim, F#, G#m, A#m.