Lydian #6 Mode on Guitar: Notes, Chords & Examples

  • May 21, 2026

Lydian ♯6 is a bright, futuristic, and slightly unstable mode. It has the floating “open sky” sound of regular Lydian, but with an extra twist: the raised 6th.

That ♯6 gives the mode a strange, synthetic tension. On guitar, it can sound:

  • Dreamy and cinematic
  • Progressive and angular
  • Fusion-like and harmonically rich
  • Slightly alien or “outside”
  • Bright, but not traditionally happy

If Lydian sounds like a major scale floating upward, Lydian ♯6 sounds like that same brightness pushed into more exotic, progressive territory.

This is not one of the everyday rock modes like Dorian, Mixolydian, or Phrygian. It is more of a color mode for players who want unusual melodic tension over major-type chords.

How does it sound?

Before anything else, let’s hear how it sounds. This can best be done by playing a chord from the mode, and playing the notes of the mode arpeggiated on top of it. This is the best and quickest way to determine the feel of a mode.

This can be quickly done using SLModes, a software dedicated to the music modes, and the following sound was generated by it:

Formula

The interval formula for C Lydian ♯6 is:

1 2 3 #4 5 ♯6 7

Compared to the C major scale:

C major: C D E F G A B

C Lydian ♯6: C D E F# G A# B

So the changed notes are:

  • #4 = F#
  • ♯6 = A#

The #4 gives the mode its Lydian sound.

The ♯6 is what makes it more unusual and synthetic.

Notes in C

The notes of C Lydian ♯6 are:

C D E F# G A# B

Important spelling note: The raised 6th is written as A#, not Bb.

On guitar, A# and Bb are the same fret in standard tuning, but the theory meaning is different. In this mode, A# functions as a raised 6th, not as a flat 7th.

That matters because the mode also contains B, the major 7th. The A# and B sit right next to each other, creating one of the most distinctive tensions in the scale.

The Chord That Defines the Mode

The defining chord of C Lydian ♯6 is:

Cmaj7#11(add♯6)

The chord tones are:

C E G B F# A#

You do not always need to play every note at once. In fact, the full chord can be very tense because A# and B are only a half-step apart.

The core sound comes from:

  • C E G B = Cmaj7
  • F# = #11, the classic Lydian color
  • A# = ♯6, the special color of Lydian ♯6

A practical guitar voicing could be:

Cmaj7#11(add♯6, no5)

e|--2--  F#
B|--0--  B
G|--3--  A#
D|--2--  E
A|--3--  C
E|-----

This voicing is tense, colorful, and very modern. Use it when you want the listener to clearly hear that this is not ordinary C major or regular C Lydian.

For a smoother sound, you can use Cmaj7#11 as the main chord and bring in the A# melodically.

Chord Progression (Example)

Because C Lydian ♯6 is an advanced synthetic mode, chord progressions work best when they keep C as the tonal center. Avoid progressions that pull too strongly into traditional major or minor key harmony.

Think in terms of vamps, pedal tones, and color chords.

Roman numerals:

Imaj7#11(add♯6) – II7#5 – Imaj7#11

In C:

Cmaj7#11(add A#) – D7#5 – Cmaj7#11

The D7#5 chord comes directly from the mode:

D F# A# C

This chord strongly highlights both the #4 and ♯6 of C Lydian ♯6.

Mood: Bright, suspended, and slightly unstable. Great for fusion intros, progressive clean sections, or cinematic guitar layers.

Guitar Fretboard Shape

Here’s the mode mapped across the full fretboard, generated with my software SLModes.

The diagram shows every occurrence of the mode across the neck:

🟢 Green dots = the root note, your anchor points
🟠 Orange dots = the rest of the scale tones

Why Guitarists Love This Mode

Emotional Flavor

C Lydian ♯6 has a rare emotional balance.

It is major, but not simple.

It is bright, but not innocent.

It feels open and elevated because of the #4, but the ♯6 adds tension that makes the sound more complex and unpredictable.

This makes it useful when regular major or Lydian feels too familiar.

Riff Potential

For progressive rock and metal guitarists, the mode can create unusual riffs without sounding randomly chromatic.

Try building riffs around:

C - D - E - F# - G - A# - B

The movement from G to A# to B is especially cool because it creates a sharp, angular climb.

You can also use the D augmented triad:

D F# A#

Over a C bass note, this gives you:

  • 9
  • #11
  • ♯6

That is a very strong Lydian ♯6 sound.

Soloing Applications

C Lydian ♯6 works beautifully over:

  • Cmaj7#11
  • Cmaj7 with a C drone
  • Cmaj7#11(add♯6)
  • C pedal tones
  • D7#5 resolving back to Cmaj7
  • Ambient or fusion vamps

For soloing, avoid treating A# like a bluesy Bb unless that is intentional. To keep the modal identity clear, resolve A# upward to B or use it as a spicy passing tone around the major 7th.

Genres Where It Works Well

C Lydian ♯6 can work in:

  • Progressive rock
  • Progressive metal
  • Jazz fusion
  • Modern instrumental guitar music
  • Cinematic scoring
  • Ambient guitar music
  • Experimental songwriting
  • Game soundtrack-style composition

It is especially useful when you want a major tonal center with a futuristic edge.

Tips for Practicing

1. Use a C Drone

Start with a simple C drone.

You can use:

  • A looper pedal
  • A synth pad
  • A sustained bass note
  • An open C-style tuning drone
  • A DAW instrument

Play the scale slowly over the drone and listen carefully to each interval.

Spend extra time on:

  • E = major 3rd
  • F# = #4
  • A# = ♯6
  • B = major 7th

Do not rush. The goal is to hear the mode, not just memorize the shape.

2. Create Simple Chord Vamps

Try these vamps:

Cmaj7#11  | Cmaj7#11(add A#)
Cmaj7     | D7#5
Cmaj7#11  | Em7 | D7#5 | Cmaj7

Keep the rhythm simple at first. Let the harmony breathe.

Once the sound is in your ear, add delay, reverb, or clean arpeggios for a more atmospheric texture.

3. Improvise With Target Notes

Instead of playing the full scale constantly, target the defining intervals.

Try resolving phrases to:

  • F# for the Lydian sound
  • A# for the unusual ♯6 color
  • B for the major 7th tension
  • E to remind the listener this is a major-type mode

A simple melodic idea:

C - D - E - F# - G - A# - B - C

Then try descending:

C - B - A# - G - F# - E - D - C

That B to A# movement sounds tense and close. Use it carefully and musically.

4. Practice Upper Triads

Over a C bass note, try arpeggiating these triads:

  • C major = C E G
  • E minor = E G B
  • G major = G B D
  • D augmented = D F# A#

The most colorful one is D augmented because it contains the #4 and ♯6.

That triad over C gives a very clear C Lydian ♯6 sound.

If you like modes, SLModes is for you

SLModes is the software for exploring everything related to music modes.

It helps you experiment with:

  • Modal chords
  • Guitar fretboard shapes
  • Chord progressions
  • Modal modulation
  • Negative harmony ideas

If you play guitar and want to access 60+ music modes, SLModes is waiting for you

Learn more about SLModes

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