Position 4 of 7 · Lydian Mode · Key of A♭

A♭ Lydian Mode

Major with raised ♯4

The A♭ Lydian is the 4th mode of the Ab Major scale. It has a dreamy, floating, ethereal, magical, otherworldly character. On guitar it appears at Position 4 in the fretboard pattern — root note Ab.

Notes in the A♭ Lydian

Ab · Bb · C · D · Eb · F · G

Step Formula

W = Whole step (2 frets) · H = Half step (1 fret)

W W W H W W H

Intervals

1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

Sound CharacterDreamy, floating, ethereal, magical, otherworldly

Parent Major ScaleAb Major — A♭ Lydian shares the same notes as Ab Major but starts on Ab

Best Used InFilm Scores, Prog Rock, Fusion, New Age

Famous ExamplesThe Simpsons theme, Flying (Beatles), Joe Satriani, Steve Vai

Key insight: The ♯4 (raised 4th) is the magic note of Lydian — one semitone above perfect 4th. It creates the floating, unresolved lift.

The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond A♭ Lydian

The A♭ Lydian is one of 7 diatonic modes in the Dead Sea Scales system. Using the 5 Missing Notes™ framework, each mode generates 7 extended variations — giving you access to all 42 total modes in any key including A♭.

Same Mode, Every Key

The Lydian pattern is identical in every key — the formula never changes. Explore the same mode in other keys:

Hear the A♭ Lydian on a live fretboard

Select key A♭ · Mode Lydian · Play notes with audio · See all 42 exotic variations

Open Free Interactive Tool →

A♭ Lydian Mode

Notes in the A♭ Lydian

Step Formula

Intervals

The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond A♭ Lydian

Same Mode, Every Key

Hear the A♭ Lydian on a live fretboard

DEEP DIVES