Scale of the Month - A Lydian - August '07

Scale of the Month - August 2007 – A Lydian

The Scale:

There are many ways in which to play an A Lydian scale. I think this is the easiest place to begin:

Ascending
E|----------------------------------------------4--5------
B|------------------------------------4--5--7-------------
G|-----------------------------4--6-----------------------
D|--------------------4--6--7-----------------------------
A|----------4--6--7---------------------------------------
E|-5--7---------------------------------------------------

Descending
E|--5--4--------------------------------------------------
B|---------7--5--4----------------------------------------
G|-------------------6--4---------------------------------
D|--------------------------7--6--4-----------------------
A|-------------------------------------7--6--4------------
E|-----------------------------------------------7--5-----

The Theory

We’d better start with a quick explanation of modes. Take an E major scale with the notes E F# G# A B C# D# E. A Lydian is the fourth mode of the E major scale, meaning that if you start playing an E major scale from the fourth note (A) and play the notes listed back around to A again, you’re playing an A Lydian scale. You will notice that although the notes remain the same, the difference in intervals (distance between notes) gives it a very different sound to E major. The notes of A Lydian are also identical to an A major scale, but the fourth scale degree is raised a semi tone (1 fret). The tonic chord is a Major Seventh.

Full Access subscribers can find more on modal theory in this lesson set by Christopher Schlegel:

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=10741&s_id=370

The Lydian Mode is used extensively by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai amongst others. ‘Flying in a Blue Dream’ and the Theme tune for the TV show ‘Futurama’ are examples of melodies using the Lydian mode.

Some Example licks (Tab symbol key below)

1) Sweep Up, Legato Down

E|---------------------------------------------------
B|---------------------------------------------------
G|------------9--8b9--6-----------------------------
D|---------9--------------7p6-----------------------
A|------7----------------------7p6-4----------------
E|--/5-----------------------------------------------

2) Crosspicking:

E|----------------------------------------------------------------
B|----------------------------------------------------------------
G|-------6------8------9-----8-----9-----11------9------8--------
D|---/7-----7------7------9-----9-----9-------9------9------9----
A|----------------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------

3) Alternate Pick:

E|--/11--9--7-----------------------------------------------
B|--------------10--9--7------------------------------------
G|-------------------------9—8\6---------------------------
D|----------------------------------------------------------
A|----------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------


4) Double Picked Vai lick:

E|-------------------------------------11--11—11b12-------
B|---------------------------10--10-------------------------
G|--------------------8--8----------------------------------
D|-------------7--7-----------------------------------------
A|-------6--6-----------------------------------------------
E|-5--5-----------------------------------------------------


Hammer ons: h.
Pull offs: p.
Vibrato: ~.
Bends: b.
Release bend: br.
Slides: / or \ depending on direction.

Full Access Subscribers can access more lessons in Lydian and modal theory at www.guitartricks.com – including:

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=9468
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=6869
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=8093


Private Message me using the links above and tell me which scale should be scale of the Month for September...