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Fig. 1 · G# Lydian · first 12 frets

guitar scale

G♯ Lydian

G♯1A♯2B♯3C𝄪♯4D♯5E♯6F𝄪7

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

The same sounds spelled from the other side are A♭ Lydian.

on ukuleleon piano

Written out

Fig. 2 · G# 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

G♯WA♯WB♯WC𝄪HD♯WE♯WF𝄪HG♯

What is true of it

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

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

Written correctly it needs 9 alterations, C𝄪 and F𝄪 among them. That is what the letters force, and it is also why nobody writes music in this key: the same notes spelled from the other side are easier to read.

On the same tonic, G♯ 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

D♯majorD♯maj7major seventhG♯majorG♯maj7major seventhA♯majorA♯7dominant seventh

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

Other scales on G♯

G♯ DorianmodeG♯ PhrygianmodeG♯ MixolydianmodeG♯ majormajorG♯ natural minorminorG♯ harmonic minorminor

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