Ab Lydian Mode
Notes in the Ab Lydian Mode
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| 3 | Mediant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♯4 | Lydian 4th | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| 6 | Submediant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | G | 391.995 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Ab | Bb |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Bb | C |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | Eb |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Eb | F |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab | major |
| 2 | Bb | Bb | major |
| 3 | C | C minor | minor |
| ♯4 | D | D diminished | diminished |
| 5 | Eb | Eb | major |
| 6 | F | F minor | minor |
| 7 | G | G minor | minor |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Lydian Mode in Practice
The Ab Lydian Mode uses the key signature of 4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db). Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing. On guitar, Ab positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The Lydian mode features a raised 4th degree, creating a dreamy, ethereal sound. It is frequently used in film music and progressive rock for its otherworldly, floating quality.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Lydian Mode
Ab is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Ab concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Ab sound a major sixth lower.