Lydian chord

In jazz music, the lydian chord is the major 7♯11 chord,[1] or ♯11 chord, the chord built on the first degree of the Lydian mode, the sharp eleventh being a compound augmented fourth. This chord, built on C, is shown below.

{ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \time 4/4 <c e g b fis'>1 } }

This is described as "beautiful" and "modern sounding."[1] The notes that make up the Lydian chord represent five of the seven notes of the Lydian mode, and the ♯11 at the top of the chord is the ♯4 (one octave higher) that distinguishes the Lydian mode from the major scale.

Major 7♯11 may also refer to the Lydian augmented chord, an augmented seventh chord with augmented fourth appearing in the Lydian augmented scale.[2]

{ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \time 4/4 <c e gis b fis'>1 } }

In a chord chart the notation, "Lydian" indicates a major family chord with an added augmented eleventh, including maj7♯11, add9♯11, and 6♯11.[1]

Harmonic function

Lydian chords may function as subdominants or substitutes for the tonic in major keys.[3] The interval of the sixth is used even though it is described after other compound intervals, and perhaps should also be a compound interval (i.e., thirteenth). The interval is considered to be the compound interval (i.e., thirteenth) when appearing with the Maj7th in the initial chord.

{ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \time 4/4 <c e gis bes d fis a>1 } }
The thirteenth chord C13♯11[4]

The dominant 7♯11 or Lydian dominant (C7♯11) comprises the notes:

r, 3, (5), ♭7, (9), ♯11, (13)

Basing this chord on the pitch C results in the pitches:

C, E, G, B♭, (D), F♯, (A)

The same chord type may also be voiced:

C, E, B♭, F♯, A, D, F♯

This voicing omits the perfect fifth (G) and raises the major ninth (D) by an octave. The augmented eleventh (F♯) is also played twice in two different registers. This is known as "doubling".

References
  1. Juergensen, Chris (2006). The Infinite Guitar, p.50. ISBN 1-4116-9007-9.
  2. Munro, Doug (2002). Jazz Guitar: Bebop and Beyond, p.39. ISBN 978-0-7579-8281-1.
  3. Miller, Scott (2002). Mel Bay Getting Into Jazz Fusion Guitar, p.44. ISBN 0-7866-6248-4.
  4. Benward & Saker (2009). Music in Theory and Practice: Volume II, p.185. Eighth Edition. ISBN 978-0-07-310188-0.
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