Major (Ionian) vs Lydian
The C major (ionian) and the C lydian share 6 notes — C, D, E, G, A, B. From there, the C major (ionian) adds F, while the C lydian adds F#.
Guitar · 6-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G, B, e. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 1 F (4), fret 2 F# (sharp 4), fret 3 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 5 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 7 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 8 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 10 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 12 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 13 F (4), fret 14 F# (sharp 4), fret 15 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 17 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 19 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 20 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 22 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 24 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian).
- A string: fret 0 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 2 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 3 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 5 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 7 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 8 F (4), fret 9 F# (sharp 4), fret 10 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 12 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 14 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 15 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 17 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 19 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 20 F (4), fret 21 F# (sharp 4), fret 22 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 24 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian).
- D string: fret 0 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 2 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 3 F (4), fret 4 F# (sharp 4), fret 5 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 7 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 9 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 10 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 12 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 14 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 15 F (4), fret 16 F# (sharp 4), fret 17 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 19 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 21 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 22 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 24 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian).
- G string: fret 0 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 2 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 4 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 5 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 7 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 9 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 10 F (4), fret 11 F# (sharp 4), fret 12 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 14 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 16 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 17 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 19 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 21 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 22 F (4), fret 23 F# (sharp 4), fret 24 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian).
- B string: fret 0 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 1 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 3 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 5 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 6 F (4), fret 7 F# (sharp 4), fret 8 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 10 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 12 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 13 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 15 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 17 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 18 F (4), fret 19 F# (sharp 4), fret 20 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 22 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 24 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian).
- e string: fret 0 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 1 F (4), fret 2 F# (sharp 4), fret 3 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 5 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 7 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 8 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 10 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 12 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian), fret 13 F (4), fret 14 F# (sharp 4), fret 15 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Lydian), fret 17 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Lydian), fret 19 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Lydian), fret 20 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Lydian), fret 22 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Lydian), fret 24 E (3 of C Major (Ionian) and 3 of C Lydian).
Both scales above are drawn on one guitar fretboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Major (Ionian) | R · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
| Lydian | R · 2 · 3 · #4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Major (Ionian) | In Lydian |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| D | 2 | 2 |
| E | 3 | 3 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| A | 6 | 6 |
| B | 7 | 7 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the major (ionian): F (4)
- Only in the lydian: F# (#4)