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G lydian pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F#, G, B, C#, D at frets 2, 3, 7, 9, 10

A string: B, C#, D, F#, G at frets 2, 4, 5, 9, 10

D string: D, F#, G, B, C#, D at frets 0, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, B, C#, D, F#, G at frets 0, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12

B string: B, C#, D, F#, G, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 7, 8, 12

High E string: F#, G, B, C#, D at frets 2, 3, 7, 9, 10

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G 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:

G

I

B

III

C♯

#IV

D

V

F♯

VII

Same notes, different mode

G 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.

B hirajoshiC# iwatoF# kumoijoshi

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

tip
  • A maj7#11 in five notes: root, III, #IV (C#), V, VII; sustain any of them over a major chord on G and nothing clashes.
  • Feature the #IV (C#) 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 G.
  • 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 G lydian pentatonic on guitar

Open G is a root and open D the fifth, meaning a drone is there for the taking under box one at 3. Open B adds the 3rd, so 3 of the 6 open strings land in the key. Fretted roots wait at 5 on the D, 8 on the B and 10 on the A. Low E fret 3 sits lowest in pitch.

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