STRINGSCALES

E lydian pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, G#, A#, B, D#, E at frets 0, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12

A string: A#, B, D#, E, G# at frets 1, 2, 6, 7, 11

D string: D#, E, G#, A#, B at frets 1, 2, 6, 8, 9

G string: G#, A#, B, D#, E at frets 1, 3, 4, 8, 9

B string: B, D#, E, G#, A#, B at frets 0, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12

High E string: E, G#, A#, B, D#, E at frets 0, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

E lydian pentatonic

The lydian pentatonic, catalogued in some collections as the chinese scale, is root, major 3rd, raised 4th, 5th, major 7th. It compresses the lydian mode's floating #4 and leading tone into five notes that outline a maj7#11 chord. Sparse and bright, it turns a static major 7th vamp into something wide open.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

E

I

G♯

III

A♯

#IV

B

V

D♯

VII

Same notes, different mode

E lydian pentatonic uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

G# hirajoshiA# iwatoD# kumoijoshi

lydian pentatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • A maj7#11 in five notes: root, III, #IV (A#), V, VII; sustain any of them over a major chord on E and nothing clashes.
  • Feature the #IV (A#) to V half step and the VII to root resolution: two leading motions in one sparse scale.
  • Some catalogues call it the chinese scale; its wide-open 3rds invite double-stop playing in E.
  • Use it to state lydian color instantly, one phrase of these five notes over a maj7 chord says #11 louder than a full modal run.

How to play E lydian pentatonic on guitar

Both E strings are open roots and the open B is the fifth, which lets box one sit at 0 with three strings ringing free. Fretted roots wait at 2 on the D, 5 on the B, 7 on the A and 9 on the G, giving a root on every string. Position work moves up at fret 4. Barre the E shape at 12, an octave above those open roots.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.