Modes
F Lydian Mode on Piano
Lydian floats. Where F major feels grounded, F Lydian replaces the Bb with a raised B natural, and that single change gives the scale a dreamy, wide-eyed quality that film composers and jazz improvisers often use. On piano, it is the fourth mode of C major — the white keys starting on F.
Notes of the F Lydian Scale
| Degree | Note | Interval from root |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| 2 | G | Major 2nd |
| 3 | A | Major 3rd |
| 4 | B | Augmented 4th |
| 5 | C | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | D | Major 6th |
| 7 | E | Major 7th |
| 8 | F | Octave |
W-W-W-H-W-W-HW · W · W · H · W · W · HLydian is major with a raised 4th — three whole steps at the start, then a half step to the 5th.
W = whole step, H = half step.
F Lydian on the Staff
One octave ascending in treble clef with the key signature of C major (no sharps, no flats).
Fingering
A standard one-octave fingering for an all-white-key scale starting on F.
- 1F
- 2G
- 3A
- 4B
- 1C
- 2D
- 3E
- 4F
- 5F
- 4G
- 3A
- 2B
- 1C
- 3D
- 2E
- 1F
Numbers indicate fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little. Both rows are shown in ascending order (low note to high note). Note the left hand starts on the pinky (5) at the lowest note and crosses the middle finger over the thumb to continue upward — that is why the left-hand numbers count down before cycling again.
Diatonic Chords in F Lydian
The seven triads built on each scale degree. They use only the notes of this scale; real pieces often add chords with altered notes as well.
Where You Hear This Scale
Listen to the hymn sections in the third movement of Beethoven's String Quartet Op. 132, which Beethoven marked "in the Lydian mode": they use F Lydian and alternate with contrasting sections in D major. Compared to F major, the only change is that one note — but B natural pulls the ear upward and outward instead of resolving in, creating the weightless Lydian sound.
Train Your Ear to Recognize This Scale
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