A Lydian Minor Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
A Lydian Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Lydian Minor scale is a unique scale that blends Lydian brightness with a layer of minor-key melancholy. On Ukulele, the notes are A, B, C#, D#, E, F, G. It provides a sophisticated, bittersweet color that is perfect for modern film scores and emotive jazz solos. Commonly used in Film Scores, Jazz, Progressive. Notable players include Danny Elfman, Brad Mehldau. Use over m7#11 chords. A specialized color for emotive jazz and cinematic passages that need emotional complexity.
Notes: A, B, C#, D#, E, F, G
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 #4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-W-W-H-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
How to Play A Lydian Minor on Ukulele
On ukulele, find A on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The A Lydian Minor scale contains 2 sharps (C#, D#). Its relative major is C# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the A Lydian Minor scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Lydian Minor scale come through clearly.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the A Lydian Minor scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know.
The A Lydian Minor scale contains 7 notes (A, B, C#, D#, E, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Lydian Minor
The A Lydian Minor 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 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Lydian Minor Further
- Harmonize the A Lydian Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Lydian Minor on Guitar
- A Lydian Minor on Bass
- A Lydian Minor on Piano