Position 4 of 7 · Lydian Mode · Key of C♯

C♯ Lydian Mode

Major with raised ♯4

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

Notes in the C♯ Lydian

C# · D# · F · G · G# · A# · C

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 ScaleC# Major — C♯ Lydian shares the same notes as C# Major but starts on C#

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 C♯ Lydian

The C♯ 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 C♯.

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 C♯ Lydian on a live fretboard

Select key C♯ · Mode Lydian · Play notes with audio · See all 42 exotic variations

Open Free Interactive Tool →

C♯ Lydian Mode

Notes in the C♯ Lydian

Step Formula

Intervals

The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond C♯ Lydian

Same Mode, Every Key

Hear the C♯ Lydian on a live fretboard

DEEP DIVES