Lydian Scale In Contemporary Music Playing

Lydian Scale

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Lydian Scale

C, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C

Chord Tones and Tensions

C, E, G, B, D, F#, A

I, 3, 5, 7, 9, #11, 13 or 6

Chords belonging to the key of CMaj :

1Maj=CMaj

3m=Em

5=G

7=Bm

9=D

#11=F#dim

13,or VI=Am

Diatonic triads in CMaj

CMaj,Em, G, Bm, D, F#dim, Am

All the diatonic notes in the key of CMaj are used to form the triads. There are many ways to combine these triads to produce some beautiful tensions.

The trick here is to use the lower notes as the basic Root or inversion of a chord, and use the remaining triads to form the necessary intended Tensions. Example to get a nice Cmaj7 chord, combine the C and Em triads and bingo a nice sounding CMaj7 chord.

Lydian scales/Chords are used when you want to have a nice mysterious feel, this scale is very much used in music composition. Many of the top composers used this scale and it gives a very creative, mysterious feel to the music.

Combining the Diatonic chord of CMaj

C triad

C + Em= gives a CMaj7 chord= C,E.G + E,G,D

C + G= gives a CMaj9 chord

C + Bm= gives a CMaj9#11 chord

C + D = gives a CMaj69#11 chord

C + F#dim = gives a CMaj69#11 chord, because of the dim structure it is best to avoid this chord.

C + Am = gives 13or C6 chord

Beware the b9 intervals:

Beware of b9 intervals these happen when there is a dissonant interval between two notes either a 1/2 step or octave apart.but in certain ways this b9 interval is permissible e.g.G7b9. The Ab and G notes form a minor 9 interval but in this case thedissonance sounds beautiful.

IN the C scale the 1/2 steps occur on the C and the B notes, the F and E notes. Keep a watchon these intervals as these intervals create dissonances and should be omitted. The way to solve this problem with the C and B notes is to change the B note for an A note and for the F and E notes is to raise the F-F# creating a Lydian sound.

This changing of notes in b9 intervals always occur in Maj chords with the (C-B) and (F-E) intervals and using simple substitutions of (B for A) and (F for F#) it will always works out fine for you. This surely is an interesting scale to learn, and a lot of its application is used in today's music. If you listen to Com temporary music, you will find a lot of examples for you to listen and apply your solos to.

Diatonic and the Altered forms of the Lydian scale

Diatonic chords are those chords that belong to the chord of the moment and these chords are:

C,C6,CMaj7,CMaj9, CMaj9#11,CMaj13#11 all these chords belong to the diatonic chords of the CMaj scale.

The Altered forms of the Lydian scale:

Notes not included in the Lydian scale are borrowed from other scales to make a composite scale for the moment.As we progress through the various scales you will be more familiar with these modes.

C7b5

C+

CMaj7b5

CMaj7#5

CMaj13#11,b5

These Lydian scales are much used for many types of music, the string sections, the brass and the horns they just sound brilliant when written in the vertical and horizontal,concepts of the Lydian Mode.

Note: Please practice all 12 diatonic keys, listen for Harmonic and Vertical Structuresand horizontal approaches; meaning the scale of the moment. We are just beginning, be patient and there will be fruits.

We will now move to learn the famous Dorian Scale

click to go to Dorian Scale

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