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.

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 Progressions

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.

Progression 1: Floating Lydian Tension

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.

Progression 2: Wide Open Prog/Fusion Vamp

Roman numerals:

Imaj7 – Vmaj7 – II7#5 – Imaj7#11(add#6)

In C:

Cmaj7 – Gmaj7 – D7#5 – Cmaj7#11(add A#)

This progression feels more spacious because it begins with familiar major 7th colors before introducing the more exotic D7#5 chord.

Mood: Open, polished, and progressive. This works well with chorus-heavy clean guitars, delay, or fusion-style lead lines.

Try letting the bass hold a C pedal tone while the upper chords move. That will make the modal center much stronger.

Progression 3: Darker Sci-Fi Major Sound

Roman numerals:

Imaj7#11 – iii7 – vii m(maj7) – II7#5 – Imaj7

In C:

Cmaj7#11 – Em7 – Bm(maj7) – D7#5 – Cmaj7

The Bm(maj7) chord uses:

B D F# A#

That chord has a darker, more mysterious sound while still belonging to the C Lydian #6 note collection.

Mood: More dramatic and cinematic. This one works especially well for progressive rock, modern fusion, soundtrack writing, or atmospheric metal interludes.

Famous Songs and Guitarists Using C Lydian #6

C Lydian #6 is not commonly associated with famous rock or metal songs in the same way that Dorian, Phrygian dominant, harmonic minor, or regular Lydian are.

You will find many guitar-based examples of Lydian sounds from players commonly associated with bright modal harmony, such as:

  • Steve Vai
  • Joe Satriani
  • Allan Holdsworth
  • John McLaughlin
  • Guthrie Govan
  • Modern progressive and fusion players

However, specific, well-known songs clearly built around Lydian #6 are much harder to confirm.

So it is more accurate to say:

C Lydian #6 is best treated as a modern synthetic color rather than a famous “song mode.”

If you like the sound of Lydian but want something more tense, exotic, and less predictable, this mode is worth exploring.

Guitar Fretboard Shape

Here is a practical C Lydian #6 shape around the 7th–13th frets.

Notes:

C D E F# G A# B

e|--------------------------7-8-10-12-|
B|-------------------8-11-12-13-------|
G|-------------7-9-11-12--------------|
D|-------8-9-10-12--------------------|
A|-7-9-10-13--------------------------|
E|-7-8-10-----------------------------|

C root notes in this area include:

  • Low E string, 8th fret
  • D string, 10th fret
  • B string, 13th fret
  • High E string, 8th fret

When practicing this shape, do not just run it up and down. Spend extra time hearing the important color tones:

  • F# = #4
  • A# = #6
  • B = major 7th

The half-step movement from A# to B is one of the most important sounds in this mode.

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.

Try This Mode in SLModes

Want to explore C Lydian #6 more deeply?

Try it in SLModes.

SLModes helps you experiment with:

  • Modal fretboard shapes
  • Chords generated from the mode
  • Guitar-friendly voicings
  • Modal modulation ideas
  • Negative harmony transformations
  • Color tones like #4 and #6

C Lydian #6 is not a beginner mode, but it is a powerful sound for guitarists, producers, and songwriters looking for something bright, strange, and progressive.

Open C Lydian #6 in SLModes, loop a C drone, and start exploring the tension between F#, A#, and B.