C# Lydian Scale Charts
Explore C# Lydian across the full guitar fretboard and 7 connected positions. Notes: C#, D#, F, G, G#, A#, C. Intervals: 1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7.
C# Lydian full fretboard chart
C# Lydian uses C#, D#, F, G, G#, A#, C across frets 0-15.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 3F | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | |||||||
| 2B | 7C | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | RC# | |||||||
| 3G | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | ||||||
| 4D | 2D# | 3F | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | RC# | 2D# | 3F | |||||||
| 5A | 6A# | 7C | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | |||||||
| 6E | 3F | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | RC# | 2D# | 3F | #4G | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (3), G4 at fret 3 (#4), G#4 at fret 4 (5), A#4 at fret 6 (6), C5 at fret 8 (7), C#5 at fret 9 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (2), F5 at fret 13 (3), G5 at fret 15 (#4).
String 2: C4 at fret 1 (7), C#4 at fret 2 (root), D#4 at fret 4 (2), F4 at fret 6 (3), G4 at fret 8 (#4), G#4 at fret 9 (5), A#4 at fret 11 (6), C5 at fret 13 (7), C#5 at fret 14 (root).
String 3: G3 at fret 0 (#4), G#3 at fret 1 (5), A#3 at fret 3 (6), C4 at fret 5 (7), C#4 at fret 6 (root), D#4 at fret 8 (2), F4 at fret 10 (3), G4 at fret 12 (#4), G#4 at fret 13 (5), A#4 at fret 15 (6).
String 4: D#3 at fret 1 (2), F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (#4), G#3 at fret 6 (5), A#3 at fret 8 (6), C4 at fret 10 (7), C#4 at fret 11 (root), D#4 at fret 13 (2), F4 at fret 15 (3).
String 5: A#2 at fret 1 (6), C3 at fret 3 (7), C#3 at fret 4 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (2), F3 at fret 8 (3), G3 at fret 10 (#4), G#3 at fret 11 (5), A#3 at fret 13 (6), C4 at fret 15 (7).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (3), G2 at fret 3 (#4), G#2 at fret 4 (5), A#2 at fret 6 (6), C3 at fret 8 (7), C#3 at fret 9 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (2), F3 at fret 13 (3), G3 at fret 15 (#4).
C# Lydian Position 1 chart
Position 1 covers frets 9-13 for C# Lydian.
| String | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||
| 2B | 6A# | 7C | |||
| 3G | 3F | #4G | 5G# | ||
| 4D | 7C | RC# | 2D# | ||
| 5A | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | ||
| 6E | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
String 1: C#5 at fret 9 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (2), F5 at fret 13 (3).
String 2: A#4 at fret 11 (6), C5 at fret 13 (7).
String 3: F4 at fret 10 (3), G4 at fret 12 (#4), G#4 at fret 13 (5).
String 4: C4 at fret 10 (7), C#4 at fret 11 (root), D#4 at fret 13 (2).
String 5: G3 at fret 10 (#4), G#3 at fret 11 (5), A#3 at fret 13 (6).
String 6: C#3 at fret 9 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (2), F3 at fret 13 (3).
C# Lydian Position 2 chart
Position 2 covers frets 8-12 for C# Lydian.
| String | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 7C | RC# | 2D# | ||
| 2B | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | ||
| 3G | 2D# | 3F | |||
| 4D | 6A# | 7C | RC# | ||
| 5A | 3F | #4G | 5G# | ||
| 6E | 7C | RC# | 2D# | ||
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
String 1: C5 at fret 8 (7), C#5 at fret 9 (root), D#5 at fret 11 (2).
String 2: G4 at fret 8 (#4), G#4 at fret 9 (5), A#4 at fret 11 (6).
String 3: D#4 at fret 8 (2), F4 at fret 10 (3).
String 4: A#3 at fret 8 (6), C4 at fret 10 (7), C#4 at fret 11 (root).
String 5: F3 at fret 8 (3), G3 at fret 10 (#4), G#3 at fret 11 (5).
String 6: C3 at fret 8 (7), C#3 at fret 9 (root), D#3 at fret 11 (2).
C# Lydian Position 3 chart
Position 3 covers frets 6-10 for C# Lydian.
| String | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 6A# | 7C | RC# | ||
| 2B | #4G | 5G# | |||
| 3G | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||
| 4D | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | ||
| 5A | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||
| 6E | 6A# | 7C | RC# | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
String 1: A#4 at fret 6 (6), C5 at fret 8 (7), C#5 at fret 9 (root).
String 2: G4 at fret 8 (#4), G#4 at fret 9 (5).
String 3: C#4 at fret 6 (root), D#4 at fret 8 (2), F4 at fret 10 (3).
String 4: G#3 at fret 6 (5), A#3 at fret 8 (6), C4 at fret 10 (7).
String 5: D#3 at fret 6 (2), F3 at fret 8 (3), G3 at fret 10 (#4).
String 6: A#2 at fret 6 (6), C3 at fret 8 (7), C#3 at fret 9 (root).
C# Lydian Position 4 chart
Position 4 covers frets 4-8 for C# Lydian.
| String | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | ||
| 2B | 3F | #4G | |||
| 3G | 7C | RC# | 2D# | ||
| 4D | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | ||
| 5A | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||
| 6E | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | ||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
String 1: G#4 at fret 4 (5), A#4 at fret 6 (6), C5 at fret 8 (7).
String 2: F4 at fret 6 (3), G4 at fret 8 (#4).
String 3: C4 at fret 5 (7), C#4 at fret 6 (root), D#4 at fret 8 (2).
String 4: G3 at fret 5 (#4), G#3 at fret 6 (5), A#3 at fret 8 (6).
String 5: C#3 at fret 4 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (2), F3 at fret 8 (3).
String 6: G#2 at fret 4 (5), A#2 at fret 6 (6), C3 at fret 8 (7).
C# Lydian Position 5 chart
Position 5 covers frets 2-6 for C# Lydian.
| String | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | ||
| 2B | 2D# | 3F | |||
| 3G | 6A# | 7C | RC# | ||
| 4D | 3F | #4G | 5G# | ||
| 5A | 7C | RC# | 2D# | ||
| 6E | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | ||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
String 1: G4 at fret 3 (#4), G#4 at fret 4 (5), A#4 at fret 6 (6).
String 2: D#4 at fret 4 (2), F4 at fret 6 (3).
String 3: A#3 at fret 3 (6), C4 at fret 5 (7), C#4 at fret 6 (root).
String 4: F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (#4), G#3 at fret 6 (5).
String 5: C3 at fret 3 (7), C#3 at fret 4 (root), D#3 at fret 6 (2).
String 6: G2 at fret 3 (#4), G#2 at fret 4 (5), A#2 at fret 6 (6).
C# Lydian Position 6 chart
Position 6 covers frets 1-5 for C# Lydian.
| String | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 3F | #4G | 5G# | ||
| 2B | 7C | RC# | 2D# | ||
| 3G | 5G# | 6A# | |||
| 4D | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||
| 5A | 6A# | 7C | RC# | ||
| 6E | 3F | #4G | 5G# | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (3), G4 at fret 3 (#4), G#4 at fret 4 (5).
String 2: C4 at fret 1 (7), C#4 at fret 2 (root), D#4 at fret 4 (2).
String 3: G#3 at fret 1 (5), A#3 at fret 3 (6).
String 4: D#3 at fret 1 (2), F3 at fret 3 (3), G3 at fret 5 (#4).
String 5: A#2 at fret 1 (6), C3 at fret 3 (7), C#3 at fret 4 (root).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (3), G2 at fret 3 (#4), G#2 at fret 4 (5).
C# Lydian Position 7 chart
Position 7 covers frets 11-15 for C# Lydian.
| String | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||
| 2B | 7C | RC# | |||
| 3G | #4G | 5G# | 6A# | ||
| 4D | RC# | 2D# | 3F | ||
| 5A | 5G# | 6A# | 7C | ||
| 6E | 2D# | 3F | #4G | ||
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: D#5 at fret 11 (2), F5 at fret 13 (3), G5 at fret 15 (#4).
String 2: C5 at fret 13 (7), C#5 at fret 14 (root).
String 3: G4 at fret 12 (#4), G#4 at fret 13 (5), A#4 at fret 15 (6).
String 4: C#4 at fret 11 (root), D#4 at fret 13 (2), F4 at fret 15 (3).
String 5: G#3 at fret 11 (5), A#3 at fret 13 (6), C4 at fret 15 (7).
String 6: D#3 at fret 11 (2), F3 at fret 13 (3), G3 at fret 15 (#4).
Lydian scale essentials
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · 3 · #4 · 5 · 6 · 7
- Characteristic tones
- #4
Practice the C# Lydian sound
- Say and play the scale: Play C# → D# → F → G → G# → A# → C → C# up and back down, naming the degrees 1 → 2 → 3 → #4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 1 as you go.
- Hear its defining tones: pause on G (#4) before landing on C#. Listen for how those characteristic tones color the phrase.
- Connect the positions: Work through all 7 position charts. Start in Position 1 (frets 9–13), then repeat a short phrase from the root in each shape. Use the full fretboard chart to find the next C# as you move between positions.
Continue with this scale
Take Lydian into the matching course and practice resources.