Bass Modes: Lydian

More modal scales for bass players! This time we’re looking at the Lydian mode- what is it, and how is it used?

Well, to answer those questions, lets look back at the major scale. The basic major scale shape goes like this:


G -------------------
D -------------4-6-7-
A -----4-(5)-7-------
E -5-7---------------

See the note in brackets? That’s the 4th note of the scale. Now, if you want to play the Lydian mode, you’re going to need to sharpen it. You’ll then end up with this:


G -----------------
D -----------4-6-7-
A -----4-6-7-------
E -5-7-------------

Which is essentially the Lydian mode (this example starts on an A note- A Lydian- but you can start anywhere).

So, following our examples, the notes of A major (the first tab) are:

A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A

Therefore, A Lydian goes like this:

A – B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A

Playing a Bassline

That’s really the only change in this scale- the sharpened 4th note- this means that in order to bring out the unique sound of the Lydian mode, we’re going to need some #4s (in this case, lots of D sharps!). Also, with modes- rather than with keys- you wont play chord progressions, instead every note of the scale relates back to the root note (not a chord).

So, how do we go about playing along and setting a groove to this kind of music? Well, take the important elements- the root note “A”, and the sharpened 4th, “D#”, and this’ll give you a starting point.

To make things really musical though you might want to at least think in terms of chords played over an A bass note (more on which chords go with which scales).

Something like this: Amaj (which already has an A in the bass) – B/A (a B major chord over an A bass note, the major third of B is D#- our sharpened 4th). Right so you don’t want to necessarily play these as chords, but it’s at least a way to start getting your head around the mode and it’s sound.

You could, for example arpeggiate these chords to create a vamp:


G -----6-------6-------8--------8-----
D ---7-------7-------9--------9-------
A -0-----0-0-----0-0------0-0------0--
E ------------------------------------

The riff above uses the open A string for the bass note (the root note), and then I’ve added the root and major third of each chord on top. Essentially creating these chords:


C#
A
A

and


D#
B
A

…or A major and B major/A.

See if you can come up with some modal ideas of your own.
Rob.

August 2, 2011 at 11:00 pm | Bass Scales | No comments