EADGBE12345678910111267123#4523#45671#4567123#47123#45673#45671267123#45
Fig. 1 · Ab Lydian · first 12 frets

guitar scale

A♭ Lydian

A♭1B♭2C3D♯4E♭5F6G7

Major with a raised fourth. The fourth mode of the major scale.

The same sounds spelled from the other side are G♯ Lydian.

on ukuleleon piano

Written out

Fig. 2 · Ab Lydian, ascending

Every accidental is written in, rather than left to a key signature, so the letters can be read one at a time.

The step pattern

A♭WB♭WCWDHE♭WFWGHA♭

What is true of it

A♭ Lydian is A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F and G, and back to A♭.

Its steps are W – W – W – H – W – W – H, where W is a whole step and H a half.

On the same tonic, A♭ major differs from it by exactly one note.

Across the first twelve frets of the guitar its notes fall in 44 places, which is what makes a scale a shape rather than a list.

Chords made only of these notes

CmminorCm7minor seventhDdimdiminishedDm7♭5half-diminished seventhE♭majorE♭maj7major seventhFmminorFm7minor seventh

Found by testing every chord in the catalogue against these 7 sounds, not chosen.

Other scales on A♭

A♭ DorianmodeA♭ PhrygianmodeA♭ MixolydianmodeA♭ majormajorA♭ natural minorminorA♭ harmonic minorminor

C lydC♯ lydD♭ lydD lydD♯ lydE♭ lydE lydF lydall 374