A Lydian Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
A Lydian Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Lydian Pentatonic scale is a mystical five-note scale that highlights the unique Lydian character. On Guitar, it contains the notes A, C#, D#, E, G#. It creates a floating, celestial atmosphere and is often used in modern jazz and ambient music to provide a sense of brightness and space without the density of a full scale. Commonly used in Fusion, Ambient, Film Scores, New Age. Notable players include Allan Holdsworth, Joe Satriani, Chick Corea. Use over Maj7#11, Maj9 chords. Perfect for dreamy, non-resolving passages in fusion and ambient music.
Notes: A, C#, D#, E, G#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 4A, 5P, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 #3 4 5
Formula: 4-W-H-4-H
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: chinese
How to Play A Lydian Pentatonic on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 5 on the 6th (low E) to find your A root note. With only 5 notes, this scale fits comfortably in a two-notes-per-string pattern across all six strings. Focus on learning a single box shape first before connecting positions.
The A Lydian Pentatonic scale contains 3 sharps (C#, D#, G#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A Lydian Pentatonic scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-D#, C#-E) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in A. Try a A5 - E5 - G#5 progression.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the A Lydian Pentatonic scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The A Lydian Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (A, C#, D#, E, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Lydian Pentatonic
The A Lydian Pentatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Lydian Pentatonic Further
- Harmonize the A Lydian Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Lydian Pentatonic on Ukulele
- A Lydian Pentatonic on Bass
- A Lydian Pentatonic on Piano
Explore A Lydian Pentatonic in Other Tunings
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Lydian Pentatonic in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)