E Lydian Scale on Guitar — 2 Shapes to Play the Whole Neck
E Lydian is one of the seven modes of the major scale — on guitar its notes are E F# G# A# B C# D#, 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.
E Lydian Scale Notes
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | 1 |
| 2 | F# | 2 |
| 3 | G# | 3 |
| 4 | A# | #4 |
| 5 | B | 5 |
| 6 | C# | 6 |
| 7 | D# | 7 |
E Lydian Formula
Degree formula: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7
Whole – Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Whole – Half
E 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 0–7 (span 7 frets)
- Lowest note G#, highest note F#
- 2 E root notes, on the D string (fret 2), E string (fret 0)
How to practice this shape
- Start on the root — E at fret 2 on the D string. Play up to the highest note in the shape, then back down, staying inside frets 0–7.
- Your hand shifts 4 times as you cross strings: A→D (-2), D→G (-1), G→B (+1), B→E (-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 E Lydian Its Sound?
The characteristic sound of E Lydian comes from its augmented 4th.
Diatonic chords
These are the 7 chords built from E 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.
E Lydian Scale Relationships
- Parent scale: B Major (Ionian)
E Lydian FAQ
E Lydian contains the notes E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#.
E Lydian is a mode of B Major (Ionian).
E Lydian has a natural (major) 3rd degree, giving it a major character. It's derived from B Major (Ionian).
The diatonic chords in E Lydian are E, F#, G#m, A#dim, B, C#m, D#m.