How To Sound Like Steve Vai - Lydian Mode Unlocked - Easy Guitar Lesson To Get Going In Minutes!

In this video we take a look at an easy and effective way to understand Lydian mode on guitar and how to sound like Steve Vai.... since he uses Lydian a lot! Or if you don't want to sound like Vai, you can use Lydian in your own way to create some new sonic soundscapes and songs. I hope you enjoy the lesson/tutorial!

[@lokarrsboots9337]

This is probably the best lesson on how to understand the Lydian mode I've watched so far. You completely removed the fluff and made it immediately practicable. Well done!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! Very glad to hear it helped!!

[@timemerson2691]

Oiy Vai. I can’t wait to try this out. I’ll never hear the major scale the same way. Excellent job Marty. Thanks again

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Have fun man! 😎🙌🎵🎵🎵🎵

[@buzzword-valentino]

See what you did there ha

[@Mangoshake2021]

I've been trying to figure that stuff out for years. You just helped me understand it in less than ten minutes. Thanks !!!

[@nicklebac6753]

Watch frank gambles modes no more mystery. Very good at explaining the modes and theories

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad to hear man!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Frank is great with this stuff no doubt.

[@chosenwarfare3811]

No one has ever explained this like you have thanks very much I learn a lot from this video

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Happy to help

[@zoltan3679]

Well explained. thankyou

[@peterbaker3878]

Awesome man! Thanks again for taking the time to show noobs like myself tricks that can really help unlock different parts of the fretboard.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome Peter! Glad to help man! 😎🎵🎵🎵🤟🏻

[@davismusic3674]

Keep this stuff coming Marty ! You’re by far the best at making this stuff easier to understand….but we are due for another science video 🎸😎

[@stephenfalkenberg1954]

Thanks for this,it is how I want it explained to me.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome! ☮️

[@RICCARDOREARDON]

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A PHENOMENAL VIDEO... I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS VIDEO BEFORE.. I REALLY,REALLY LOVE THIS VIDEO...

[@patrickkeenan6331]

One of the best, most USEFULL video on the subject of Lydian. Thank you!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much! Glad to help and happy to hear! 😎🎵🎵🎵

[@ccaputa]

The example you played with the drum beat playing A lydian reminded me of the song I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow back in the early 80's.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I need to check that out! 😄

[@jv14488]

thank you for this lesson, this really helped me understand how these scales overlap

[@eddiejr540]

Marty…incredible lesson…you explained it perfectly cuz even I understood what you were talking about…rock on my brother!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! Very glad to hear it helped! 🎵🎵

[@RivieraOrthodontics]

This is so helpful; please make more of these. Perhaps a Dorian/Carlos Santana lesson? thank you Marty!

[@Andrew-pk9vz]

Very well explained Sir thank you 🤘🏼👊🏼👍🏼

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! Glad it helped 😎

[@richierich8334]

I wish I had this kind of learning material when I started playing at 13 in 1993. My teacher taught me to play Dorian as the root in one key and never could understand how to break out and sound different. No wonder kids in their teens are so good nowadays, they have it all at their fingertips.

[@simondou6882]

So simply explained here. I now understand the modal approach in any key. Awesome video.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad it was helpful! 😎🤟🏻

[@cantstartafire]

Dude! Awesome! Love the guitar.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you so much ☺️🤟🏻

[@roballen49]

Cool tip! thanks

[@crate5150]

Thanks for the great video. Now, time to go and play. You did a great job explaining the concept and gave a really good lesson.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Awesome man! Thanks for watching and have fun!

[@mixc8]

Very nice!

[@acecomet]

Great video ! 👍

[@MKRISING75]

Great lesson thank you so much for the help. That Ibanez is a dream guitar of mine I played an original one back in 92 or 93 at a local music store I didn’t want to stop playing it now they have re-released it I’m still drooling over it.That’s the first time I saw it on your channel that’s a killer guitar 🤟🏻

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! I was lucky enough to score this thing on marketplace Pre pandemic for 900 bucks. With a case. It's a great playing guitar. I think the maple neck really stands out. 😎🎵🙌

[@MKRISING75]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker awe man 900 bucks that’s awesome brand new that thing is $1600! I need to check other places for a deal like that.Great content as always buddy thanks for all you do!🤟🏻

[@Resurrection4groove]

Thank you, you unlocked a key in my brain to understand something important 🎉😊🎉 very well explained

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

That's great to hear man! Make me very happy. 😎☮️

[@renardarandia9007]

Thanks. Excellent

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You are welcome!

[@kevinalfrey2633]

I’ve loved that fiddle since it came out

[@wjewell63]

Thanks man..

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome!! 😎🙌

[@me.roderick]

Another 5 star Marty!💪🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man! 😎🤟🏻

[@rccarsandmusic2641]

Nice Marty good job!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man!!

[@Mac-fm5yh]

Thx that helped alot 💪

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Glad it helped 😎☮️

[@Earlvis]

I had that guitar a few years ago and traded it for a Budda Superdrive 30. I must have been stupid because I miss the guitar way more than that amp! Great lesson, Marty! Great to see you and love your channel.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you Earl. I really appreciate ya watching man!!! 🎵🎵🎵🎵🙌😎

[@richb6291]

A1 lesson Marty thank you and a stunning guitar too !!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you kindly good sir! 😎🙌

[@richb6291]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Youre very welcome really good lesson as usual Marty.

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁💕

[@augmented2nd666]

Sharp 4th, if you want it extra spicy Sharp 4 Flat 7 for Lydian Dominant. Extra points if you convert your pentatonic, try Minor pentatonic add major 3rd, sharp the 4th and flat the 7th, very common in fusion.

[@timothyplonk2982]

Great lesson as I've been trying to play it for some time. So cool...A guitarist like me that loves Via and Van Halen. Excellent video bro!🎸👍🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Timothy! Glad to hear it helped! 😎🤟🏻🎵🎵🎵🎵

[@satchrules101]

Hi , I don’t know for sure but I think for c major F would be Lydian.. G would be mix Lydian.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@satchrules101 hey there! Good question. C Lydian is a G major scale due to the F# in the g major scale. F Lydian is a C major scale due to a B natural not a b flat. You take the 5th note up in the key. Play that major scale. So g major over C drone is Lydian. G minor blues scale over C is mixolydian ☮️🎵😎

[@satchrules101]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Thank you.!

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Awesome Ibanez man

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! 😎

[@motoman963]

Lesson on High Hopes

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Great song. I can get it for sure.

[@motoman963]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker 🙏🏻

[@chapmanfx8104]

wow thanks best explanation I've heard. what intervals do you find are the most musical to bend either half or whole steps within lydian. appreciate you need a chord context for a detailed answer but hoping for some starting advice. thanks again

[@Guitarsgunsandghosts]

Sweet

[@Paul-dw2cl]

1:15 reminded me of I Need You by the Beatles

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Lol. Yeh I can understand why. 😁👍

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

Great video and I have that same guitar. LOVE IT. I can play EVH, AC/DC, Metallica, Megadeth and lighter stuff like blues (first thing my teacher taught me. Mainly for simplicity and learning lead plaing). Very versatile guitar and it look fantastic. Ok, enough SV and his guitar fan boy talk. I don't have a Wolfgang but have played one and although not quite as versatile, I LOVED how it played even more (and sounded with rock music). Saving for one now but I want the D-tuner. What does everyone think of both guitars and especially the D-tuner?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you, glad you like the video. D-tuna is cool. Very nice if you have a locking nut and Floyd but need to drop D on the fly. Especially for unchained! 🤟🏻😎

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker thanks, I like a few drop D songs. The D tuna looks like a time saver and fun. I don't really muck around with other tunings (unless I'm following a lesson of yours and Eddie is tuned a half step down)..... cheers mate.

[@Motleymick]

Sorry professor I was distracted by that gorgeous guitar.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

😂😂 focus!

[@tomg2217]

I wouldn't say it sounds like Vai, but it sure as hell sounds like Satriani! Not exactly a surprise, but still a great lesson! Keep up the great work and I'm am now subbed!

[@JimsMusicJourney]

Satriani plays a lot of Lydian and Locrian.

[@gabee3993]

Great chops man, I'd say A lydian was straight up Satch with the cadence. Legato and the melody hitting on the tonal. Feel like Vai does a lot of lydian and mixo but he also vai's everything.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Gabe! Yeh they both dabbled a lot with Lydian. Satch uses all sorts of stuff but love how he always brings is back to blues.

[@williamb2845]

Greta stuff, Marty. Is there another example with a minor scale?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

If you play an A major scale over an F# drone that is f# minor. A major and F# minor are relatives. Same notes. The easy way to do this with any note is to count three frets down from your starting note and there is your relative minor for any key.

[@kibscott6096]

Beautiful guitar man,. Great video Marty 🤘

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man👍

[@davidjeffers68]

Just wrote on my whiteboard of things to do... "Play around with Lydian" ( because I enjoyed this lesson ) My mother looks up from her sewing over her glasses and said... "Who's Lydian?" 🤣

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Hahaha!

[@doughnut5871]

That's really awesome!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Slash!

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

One other thing, is there a way to play summer nights using a d tune pedal or something like that. Can't find, or afford, the guitar Eddie used on the original. I know you can use your index finger as a kind of capo but it's just too hard to play that way or make it sound like it flows. A pedal is all I can think of. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Sure, I do believe the Morpheus pedal would work. ??

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker cool, thanks. I'll check it out.

[@gabrieledegiorgio5401]

What book is he talking about at the beginning of the video?

[@robbyb6380]

Wow!! Why has this never been addressed by anyone else?

[@waynegram8907]

So steve vai mostly uses the Parallel Lydian Mode, not the Relative Lydian mode? I have read that David Gilmour uses the lydian mode but he uses the minor pentatonic scale or minor scale. If you're in the key of A minor how do you find the lydian mode using the minor scale? I think you play C minor scale or C minor pentatonic = A lydian mode , if you play E major scale = A lydian mode

[@IshredGuitar]

I show you on my page, look for my lesson reviews. I teach the relative positions, video above is why newbies stay confused.

[@Twy7chTec_Vayper]

Dig the instrument

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks bro! ☮️🙌

[@IshredGuitar]

That's Ionian diatonic scale off the low E.... A Ionian and E Ionian, that's a cool way you're applying but my way breaks down entire fretboard with relative minor and majors.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

If you take any Major scale... then go to the fifth note of that scaje... and play a major scaje in the key of that fifth note ... that is Lydian. For example G is the 5th of C major. Play a h major scale over C major. That's Lydian because of the F#. (Sharp 4)

[@IshredGuitar]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I get it....I know what you mean, again very cool for some but still confusing for new players trying to understand complete fretboard with relative major and minors. My teaching approach utilizes the complete relative mode in this case A major we use A-Ionian off the low E then whole step to B-Dorian then whole step to C#-Phrygian then half step to D-Lydian etc etc. Another example is when you have E-Dorian or and Dorian minor we use the Dorian diatonic mode scale. I teach all the minor master keys and then how to locate its major at the 3rd note of its natural minor scale you literall y track the scale down the fretboard on the low E string thus we map out the complete fretboard. New players are staying confused because instructors are teaching them degrees and fifth scale theory, that's all great for advanced players who already understand the foundation of the fretboard.

[@papablue3015]

Nice! I think I might have dated her sister?lol Thanks Marty!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

😂

[@madhavmorley855]

Jerry Cantrell has a youtube channel?

[@GuillermoValdez-y6c]

Isn’t it Lydian is the 4th degree of a major scale. So key of A the D would be the Lydian or in key of C the F would be the Lydian

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Lydian is a major scale with a sharp 4. An easy way to play Lydian is to play a major scale of the note that is the 5th note of the key you are in. For example. If you are in C major play a G major scale. The F# in that keys makes it Lydian. Since you're playing C D E F# G A B C

[@GuillermoValdez-y6c]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker actually Lydian Scale in key of C would be FGABDEF. There’s no F# in Key of C

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@GuillermoValdez-y6c incorrect. The key of C Lydian has a key signature of 1 sharp (F#). The C Lydian scale has the notes C, D, E, F#, G, A, and B. It is the 2nd most popular key among Lydian keys and the 56th most popular among all keys. The C Lydian scale is similar to the C Major scale except that its 4th note (F♯) is a half step higher.

[@GuillermoValdez-y6c]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker C Lydian would be for G Major Ionian

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@GuillermoValdez-y6c C Lydian has an F # and the rest of the notes are natural. Which is also G major and e minor.

[@guitardedimbisol6087]

Your 3 note per string patterns are not complete and there is only 7 positions you should have explained them as 1st position (major) is Ionian, 2nd Dorian, 3rd phrygian, 4th lydian, 5th mixolydian, 6th aeolian (natural minor), 7th locrian. 1st, 4th, & 5th are major patterns, 2nd, 3rd, & 6th are minor patterns, 7th pattern is diminished, this is also the same for any key all depends on where the Ionian pattern starts from. The example you did with the A lydian would sound more lydian with major13 or #11 chords with A in the bass, the drone does work too, Steve Vai sounds more like E lydian which is B major (Ionian) Satch likes this one too

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I was simplifying a technique for guitarists to understand how to find Lydian no matter what key. Rather than focusing on the names and portions of all modes I provided the portions for all major scales. That way user can move them wherever they want and play Lydian. They just use the scale that is associated with the 5 note in the key they want to play Lydian. Modes can be too complicated and this is an easy hack to understanding Lydian. It can be applied to all modes but I chose Lydian for this example. My scales I showed are all E major positions which also is A Lydian.

[@guitardedimbisol6087]

Modes are hard hear without some kind of backing rhythm and a drone is the easiest way to hear them, I just noticed in some of your patterns only had 2 notes on some strings, great video along with all your others keep up the good work

[@JimsMusicJourney]

You wouldn't play D because its not diatonic in A Lydian. It would be D#. The chord would be D# diminished or D#7b5. Think of the chords in E major but keep the A as the tonic (home note). If you really want to learn the modes check out Frank Gambale's description. People try and stay away from a leading tone of the base major scale when using modes. Here the D#dim would lead you back to E Major. But its not impossible to do if you keep that pedal tone of A. That D# wants to resolve to E.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

A Lydian is a mode of the E Major Scale. Same notes.

[@JimsMusicJourney]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I was just pointing out that in the video you mistakenly said the 4th of A lydian was D.

[@Mossy5150]

More like A - Leadian, amirite?!?!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

True that bro.

[@pbosche]

Huh? Lydian is the 4th interval. Mixolydian is the 5th. You seemed to say several times to go to the 5th interval for Lydian. I’m so confused.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

To play Lydian... play a B major scale over E. B is the 5 steps up from E. So the easiest way to know how to play Lydian is take the tonic key... then whatever the 5th is if that tonic key play that major scale. There's your Lydian. Another example is play a D major scale over G tonic. D is the 5 of G. However in a D major scale there is a C# (and an F#) That C# makes the Lydian tonality over G.

[@JimsMusicJourney]

Because you are correct. To play A Lydian you would play E Major but just use the A as the tonic or home note. The Lydian is the 4th mode. You are supposed to count down, not up.

[@IshredGuitar]

Come to my page I break down all the diatonic modes scales, minor and major and their relatives.

[@danieleducci5064]

Do Re Mi Fa Sol La SI Do,not Ti Do ...

[@Taylor___]

Just play in D major over an A major for lydian. If you play in E you'll be in mixolydian.

[@stephenphillips5523]

Still don't get it

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Take the key you're in. And play the major scale associated with the 5th note of that key. E is the 5th note in A. So play E major over A and there is your Lydian. You can apply this with any key. For example.. play a G major scale over a C drone. That's C Lydian.

[@felixarmandoocampoluces1941]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I thought you had to start on the 4th note of the major scale

[@IshredGuitar]

Come to my page I break down all the diatonic modes relative minor and majors., breaks down entire fretboard.

[@musiccompositionadventures621]

You lost me at “I didn’t feel like tuning my guitar”

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Sorry man! Lol. It was in tune so you misquoted me. I didn't tune it to 440 it's in e flat. ☮️

[@hunocualquiera7749]

hablas mucho y enseñas poco

[@carloslozada470]

Vai is great butt Eddie is better

[@anxose]

si..es verdad.. Eddie no aburría tanto con sus sólos!

[@conig25]

Wow - God forbid you tune up an entire 1/2 step.

[@IshredGuitar]

Or grab another guitar! I don't get it, I work my ass off and can't get to a 1K subs.

[@patrickian8843]

As far as playing over a droning note, I have found that playing with it, I really start to “open up” musically.

[@orloification]

E is not the "lydian" chord of A. E is the dominant... or have I misunderstood something? Cheers Marty.

[@jayalaniz2446]

Im confused too

[@IshredGuitar]

So true! Come to my page I break down all the diatonic modes.

[@IshredGuitar]

@@jayalaniz2446 Come to my page I break down all the diatonic modes.