How to play the A♭ Lydian mode on bass
The A♭ Lydian mode has 7 notes: A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F and G. Major with a ♯4. Bright and floating; common in film scores.
Step pattern: W W W H W W H (W = whole step, two frets; H = half step, one fret). Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. Key signature: 3 flats: A♭ B♭ E♭. Parent major: E♭ major scale.
The root, A♭, is on the 4th fret of the E string and the 11th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 9th fret of the low B string.
A♭ Lydian Mode tab: root on the E string
Start on the 4th fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 6 without moving your hand.
G|-----------------| D|-----------3-5-6-| A|-----3-5-6-------| E|-4-6-------------|
Notes: A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭
Fingers: 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4
A♭ Lydian Mode tab: root on the A string
Start on the 11th fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 10 to 13 without moving your hand.
G|----------------10-12-13-| D|-------10-12-13----------| A|-11-13-------------------| E|-------------------------|
Notes: A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭
Fingers: 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4
Two octaves from the E string
Start on the 4th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 4 to 13 with 1 position shift and 1 one-fret stretch.
G|----------------------------------10-12-13-| D|-------------------------10-12-13----------| A|----------------10-11-13-------------------| E|-4-6-8-10-11-13----------------------------|
Notes: A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭
Fingers: 1 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4
On a 5-string bass: root on the B string
Start on the 9th fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 8 to 11 without moving your hand.
G|----------------------| D|----------------------| A|--------------8-10-11-| E|------8-10-11---------| B|-9-11-----------------|
Notes: A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭
Fingers: 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4
Notes and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval | Frets above the root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | Root | 0 |
| 2 | B♭ | Major 2nd | 2 |
| 3 | C | Major 3rd | 4 |
| ♯4 | D | Augmented 4th | 6 |
| 5 | E♭ | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| 6 | F | Major 6th | 9 |
| 7 | G | Major 7th | 11 |
When to use it
Major 7 chords, especially the IV chord of a major key. With the drone on, land on the ♯4 and hold it. Hear how it hangs instead of resolving.
How to practise it
Start with the metronome at 60 BPM in 8th notes, ascending and descending, until you can play it without looking. Raise the tempo 5 BPM at a time with the speed builder, then switch on memory mode so the tab hides after the first loop. Earn bronze for playing it through, silver at 4 notes a second, and gold at that speed from memory.
The Lydian mode in every key
- CC D E F♯ G A B
- GG A B C♯ D E F♯
- DD E F♯ G♯ A B C♯
- AA B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯
- EE F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯
- BB C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯
- G♭G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F
- D♭D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C
- A♭A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G
- E♭E♭ F G A B♭ C D
- B♭B♭ C D E F G A
- FF G A B C D E
Printable chart of all 12 keys: PDF · print page · every pattern in one PDF