How to use the Lydian sound/Lydian scale to improvise on the piano

The Lydian Mode is the 4th Mode of the Major Scale. But how does an ear pianist use the Lydian Scale? How does the gospel musician apply the Lydian Mode to their songs? This video answers those questions and more.
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🟠 TIMESTAMPS:
00:04 Why the Lydian sound will help you
00:34 The circle of fifths helps to explain the overall feeling of the Lydian sound
01:40 Form the Lydian by raising the 4th note in a major scale up a half-step
04:14 Explaining how to use the Lydian Sound
05:50 Use two major triads to form the Lydian sound
07:14 Songs that use the Lydian sound
09:50 Oh my soul loves Jesus, by Kurt Carr
11:20 Draw me close to you
14:52 Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God almighty Hymn Improv using Lydian
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[@BennettYancey]

I can’t believe that the Lydian sound is something I have used for years but never knew what it was. Thanks for this video!

[@broncheemims8493]

Never thought about the Lydian scale but it sounds good when I used it in RnB

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

for sure doc, throw it in!

[@traciemartin3785]

If ever you give personal piano lessons within your area, one can see that you would be very patient, calm & encouraging. That helps pupils learn better and actually enjoy it. God bless you & yours. Keep up the beautiful work. ❤😊🙏

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Thanks so much Tracie, actually Im a 20 year teacher veteran. I can be patient 90% of the time lol

[@loisjoels_6469]

Whoooah!. Thanks so much for this.

[@jcftmkdalaxiy632]

@@SeanWilsonPiano Do you teach face to face?

[@traciemartin3785]

@@SeanWilsonPiano Wow! No wonder you are so. good at what you do! I know that's right. I hear you that. LOL!

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

On my website the highest level member gets a certain amount of personal instruction per year. But those are full at the moment so I’m booked for a few months. It’ll probably slow down in Sept

[@andresrivera5246]

Honestly the best explanation of the lydian mode I’ve seen. Wish to have more like this video.

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Appreciate it man, thanks for watching!

[@bettyennin6335]

Stumbled on this video and truly blessed! Thank you sir!!!

[@amulikekennedy3550]

Bro i have laughed at myself after watching this. You are such a blessing, you've opened my eyes.... i have a 5year old piano student we were doing "amazing grace" song. there is part of the song that goes "that saved a wretch like me" i told her to use major two chord as the passing to the firth major...but then she made a mistake but i still felt it and i was like keep it going.. she played first major chord on her left and mojor two on right hand

[@thomasflood1668]

I am a bass player studying piano and I was so blessed by this video.

[@dantedt3931]

3:37 The song is called ‘Manifest’ from the album ‘A Wing and A Prayer’ by Bishop TD Jakes and the potter’s house choir. The dude on keys was the maestro himself,Kevin Bond.

[@nanakakitano9724]

The cool thing with the idea of using lydian to approach the V is it's fulfilling the same function as turning the ii chord into a secondary dominant does in baroque/classical music. Depending on how you apply this simple idea you can create cool jazz sounds or classically inspired sounds.

[@casperdeez8936]

This video Premiered at 10:30pm my time last night... found myself watching it on repeat till like 2am... Just sensational ... the way you played Holy Holy Holy... that should be 'framed' and stored in a museum for ALL to 'see' lol... In this video alone you've answered questions i've had for years.... Thank you @Sean Wilson Piano ... you're a true blessing to the Gospel Musicians.....

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Wow man, that was a powerful word!

[@casperdeez8936]

@@SeanWilsonPiano Thanx to you man.... God bless you and your family and keep blessing us with these....

[@GioGwapz803]

And that my friends is why…the “4” in worship is so POWERFUL 💪🏾😎

[@toriahsmithdennis2064]

the greatest of all time gospel musician

[@mkharizane]

Love you Seun 💙🤗 I appriate you my brother. All the way from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Thanks man!

[@kennethstavis9953]

Thank you for opening up my understanding of modes. These have sort of been a mystery to me.

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

No problem, Modes can def be confusing

[@GaxtonOkobah]

Finally I get to see a good reason to learn some music theory. Thanks Sean.

[@zispoth]

You should give us a playlist of some of your favorite artists and songs that we could transcribe! I'd love that!

[@kevinrusche4547]

wow - heard Lydian in HS Music Theory class ~40 years ago and never really got why I'd care until now - love the song (and Disney) examples......YES! Thank you (and the Lord) for sharing your gift!!

[@novriana8238]

Wow. I played the sound, I knew the sound, but I just found out what is it!!! And your explanation just wowed my mind. You're the GOAT. Thank you!!!

[@mohamedm.r.mostafa8909]

Greetings from Toronto... This was just awesome... You just touch that keyboard and it immediately sounds so warm ... Thank you for your video...

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Thanks so much!! glad you enjoyed the instruction!

[@davidmead6337]

Sean. You create so much beauty and are such an inspiration with your enthusiastic teaching. All of you out there --Sign Up to the lessons. You will not regret it at all and is the best value for money ( pisst; just don't tell Sean)

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Wow, thank you!

[@Joel228-07]

I didn't know you could define Dominant 7/4 like this, simply because I have looked into modes and scales as I should. See, I couldn't even know how to define what I was playing until I watched this video.. I know better, even as an intermediate player.

[@NiftyBand]

Actually had to wait to download this ...sir!!!! you are so amazing!!!

[@TimothyJohnsonBey]

Liked. Commented. Subscribed.

[@roobensjeanlouis7399]

I'm happy Sean God bless you Haitian 🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹✌

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Appreciate it man, thanks so much!

[@utilars]

2:53 - Brother, I know this is so, so basic for you, but those gospel chords you talk about over there are sooooo beautiful!!!

[@rolandclaytor5507]

I love your spirit sir i am an musician myself and ive met very many but none like the spirit you have

[@jj53368]

This video just blew my mind. It’s going to be a great Saturday 🎹. THANK YOU.

[@ThomasMitchell10036710010717]

I’m already ready

[@midastymiwaynedasty2681]

Awesome tutorial. Thanks 🙏. Greetings from Ghana 🇬🇭

[@blessbless231]

Wow this is amazing. I'm from Liberia (West Africa). Your lessons have helped me alot.

[@keysfortheking]

Boy am glad u made a video of this.. Had an idea of this before but not practically

[@blackpat]

Yessir!! Sounds great!!

[@remoteworkinternational]

Love this video man. I am inspired by your skills. Really good demonstration of the lydian scale.

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Thanks so much!!

[@vt3musicproduction]

Interesting approach to chord voicing. I will use it and check your previous videos 👍🏾

[@jwilliams6968]

Awesome video. Last five minutes were 🔥

[@onen0zednine753]

I am a fan of how you talk about music. Your passion and excitement for the possibilities to be explored in music shines through very well.

[@kennethjoshua3325]

AWESOME!!! thanks

[@voriskinlaw9775]

Sean...Modal 🎶 Making (& The Reason's Why-)-Keep Up The Work!!!

[@curiouscurious6558]

excellent video, It so easy to think of the lydian mode the Major scale starting on the 4th note of the scale. The C lydian scale sounds like it may wants to go to G major for that reason F lydian is a C Major scale starting on F. FGABCDEF. THE chords you mentioned are the 4 chord and the 5 chord going to the ONE CHORD. Wish you all well

[@MrArizona655]

You do such a great job of simplifying the mystery of music theory. Keep it coming!

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Thanks so much!

[@romanferguson4032]

15:51 thats it right there. the triad major chord from the 1 and the 2, picked notes from those for the melody. he's seeing those shapes "light up" on the chord he's on for melody notes. sometimes he will "Grace" note into them just slide into a shape.

[@a.drummond8745]

Bro your channel is everything I need! My playing has been trash cans. You explain everything I need to know very well!

[@bobbyallen7400]

I like that. For me I just think of the G Lydian scale as the regular D major scale. That way I don’t have to remember which notes to raise or lower for the 7 main church modes. I just remember the mode numbers (Lydian being the fourth) and Go down a perfect fourth from G and just play that major scale. That way I only really need to remember the regular major scales. Then I practice all my major scales From every starting point in the scale. This is just me Though. There are multiple ways to connect the dots.

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Yes, good way to look at it 👍🏾

[@bobbyallen7400]

@@SeanWilsonPiano so technically each major scale has 7 different names.

[@TerranceNock]

That’s EXACTLY how I look at it lol I’ll say E lydian and immediately I know to play the B major scale starting on E

[@Rodneymugz]

Wooow! I actually played this chord many times without even knowing it was a Lydias chord. Mostly in C#. I would play the F# chord in the left and G# in the right (F#/G#) as a passing chord

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

That’s it doc!!

[@AMAZING_INSIGHTS776]

Thanks senior Sean .. You take time to explain and that makes it interesting to watch and easy to comprehend

[@jackychoi4462]

9:23 sounds like the start to little mermaids part of your world. A great explanation video.

[@peterliman6968]

Sir ever since I kept following you are so good and I enjoy all lesson and learn from it. Please sir can you at least take some explanation to the key of C at times please 🥺. I face some difficulties on the other keys too trying to get some few explanation

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

You’ll get there, just keep practicing other keys

[@EzraBufford]

Excellent!

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Appreciate it doc!

[@albertfavela1627]

Thank You,, this is a tremendous help.. God Bless

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Appreciate it man!

[@marmon5662]

So.. I've been playing the lydian without realizing it!! I play by ear.. 😁. Thanks for the enlightenment Sean. Great teaching. For people playing by ear it is a great moment when you realize the theory behind what you've been drumming out for years..

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Yup, you’ve been using it this whole time

[@account4chess]

Man, you know music

[@celestinenasimiyu8337]

Wow. Wonderful!

[@DaveDugganITPro]

this is an excellent lesson by a great teacher

[@Tededison]

Wow amazing I’m a 57 year praise and worship pastor who wants to learn how to go to the next level. You are amazing can you help me?

[@NiftyBand]

Hurray

[@DionteMedley]

Awesome bro!

[@maazziuche28]

God bless you man

[@nasmboyd1573]

So Sean correct me if I’m wrong but basically I’m using Lydian it’s like you’re using upper structures as a passing tone. An example how cdom7 (left)with a d major chord (right)being played at the same time is a passing tone to a 4 or 6. That’s massive insight 🤔. Never thought of it that way

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Yes, exactly what I’m doing

[@garrygivens1680]

Loving all of the chord voicings! According to your concept in the beginning, the lydian mode scale could be used as an approach or concept to go from the 1 to the 5 using the song sample "Draw Me Close to You". The scale could also be used with the major 7th as shown with the song "Manifest". But I have to plead guilty to confusion on the song "Holy holy holy". I know you said that you were going more for the lydian sound. I must have viewed this video about 10 times, I'm trying to wrap my head around your use of the concept, as best as I could get it, I believe that you played the lydian sound going for the melody using chord inversions off the C, F, and the Eb major 7th using poly chords. However, there is a brightness to the lydian sound, hopefully if I look at it 10 more times maybe I'll get that EUREKA moment...lol. I do consider myself a high level musician but you got me on this one. Good video!

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

What minute second confused you?

[@shedrickjenkins4457]

Yesssss, thanks bro

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Appreciate you man!

[@frednow]

Well done, clear explanation. Beautiful playing, too! One suggestion: the software you use to automatically display note names sometimes makes enharmonic mistakes. For example, it writes a D flat when you’ve played a C sharp (and called it a C sharp in your explanation, too) which is really what it should be displaying in an A major chord. Also sometimes displays sharps in a flat chord. I’m not sure if that can be adjusted in your software, but it would help clear up some confusion. 😬

[@lennmendoza5130]

Thanks for sharing this vital info.

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sithembisogumbi7991]

Thank you so much this was beautiful amazing 😻

[@juliusisrich]

Great video

[@istominmusic]

Wow! Cool! Thank you!!!

[@GraceNoteMusicAcademy]

I love Lydia... She's beautiful, I love how speaks to my Ears... Or its Lydian, I love them both🙄🏃🏃🏃😛😂

[@popeyelegz]

For people having trouble understanding the modes it just means you're starting on a different scale tone than the root so Dorian starts on the second and runs up and down all the scale tones but starting on the second and mixolydian runs up and down the scale starting and ending on the 5th degree of the scale rather than the root and so forth. Lydian mode isn't really playing a regular scale but raising the fourth degree of half step lydian mode just means you're running up and down the scale from the fourth note of the scale to the octave fourth above. So, lydian mode of the key of c just runs up and down the scale from f to f.

[@chriscox9303]

Good stuff as always bro.

[@rh4345]

Good lesson!

[@closed13]

Really appreciate your time and patience keep up the great work.

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Much appreciated!

[@mikemoore8531]

Awesome video! Thank you! I subscribed to your channel! God bless!

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Thanks so much man!!

[@TheInterGalacticFederation]

great video and playing - thank you - you have helped me understand Lydian better.

[@ARCODEMUSIC]

Great video Sean

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Thanks man!!

[@emmaben9104]

Your passion and the way you teach drives me to wanna learn how to play the keyboard. Maybe I'll just stick with learning the chords for a start 🤔 Already subscribed too

[@nightbrkfst6881]

sending you lots of gratitude! glad to have found you and your lessons, subscribing now and diving in to your other videos. thanks so much, have an awesome day!

[@TheDNAProject]

So good!!!

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Yessir doc!

[@mrg861]

Can we get a breakdown of the locrian mode , and the application thereof

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Yeah, eventually, I'll probably do all of the modes

[@MyKingsun]

@@SeanWilsonPiano that would be great

[@DionteMedley]

@@SeanWilsonPiano same question, thanks👍🏾

[@ddjjazzpianomoderne5646]

Thank you thank you thank you

[@_sonicfive]

This makes sense but then I easily forget how to apply it.

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Whatever you don’t use immediately you lose

[@_sonicfive]

@@SeanWilsonPiano true. But coming from a Hispanic church musical upbringing this makes even more sense. This was overused for over 20 years. But there are always creative ways to use it and make it sound fresh. Thank you for the clarification on how to use the lydian sound.

[@jonathanchuks103]

Hey Sean , please do you have a sequential course on how to learn the keyboard... Being a victim of wrong playing "transpose" and I really want to know this stuff well. Struggling with unlearning.. I need such grace from you to break that stronghold...I love how you approach music and playing...thanks for your efforts and the contents you put out...

[@epserser9396]

What lesson. Thank you so much.

[@flanderstruck3751]

Thank you

[@WavetableMetaphysics]

Tip top notch content God bless you 🙏

[@messanbokor]

Thanks!

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Thanks so much!

[@kingdomdrummer]

Mannn I really wanna join your class

[@bennyhousemedia1405]

Beautiful haircut sean.... Lesson as interesting as always...

[@bwoyfranki8466]

I want to be your student ...i always see your tutorial and i like them

[@VioletMidnightProductions]

Beautiful!!!

[@gracesagali1707]

Good lesson

[@TCMckeithan1]

Awesome. Subscribing....

[@parthraj555]

Nice explanation. One question : Can you suggest simple, good, portable,compact audio mixture in which provision for 2× headset (headphone+mic combo)is present. The idea is to do a live interview of a singer destined to be recorded. Hence,2× headset are required with low latency . Some live piano back track is also to be introduced via a separate jack.

[@brandonbuxton8960]

Great vid

[@leeevans9324]

Sean!! Is the intro to Kirk Franklin’s He’s Able using the Lydian sound!?!??

[@etzereceron3302]

Hi! I congratulate you. I would like to ask you a question please. Is Lydian sound is a ditonic chord

[@dluttrell78]

Song of praise youthful praise...at 3:48 mins

[@user-xl6hv7dx5r]

Hello, you are a very good teacher. I am a music teacher in Myanmar. I can only play classical music. How can I transform to play music like yours? Need to start practicing from those aspects

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Hey, if you are classically trained, I would recommend a beginner ear training and theory class to start. A good ear foundation would be a great complement your your classical background

[@ball4GOD]

Could you break down Rain on Us by Earnest Pugh? Mainly the piano part in the beginning

[@bennyhousemedia1405]

Very interesting topic and patience with the teaching. But my question is, while playing the draw me close to you, you were approaching the 5 which is an F, why did you choose to use the Bflat lydian to approach the F.. Why was it not any other lydian scale. Why Bflat. Thanks for all you do

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Hey, Because Bb Lydian contains all the notes in a C7 dominant chord

[@bennyhousemedia1405]

@@SeanWilsonPiano sorry , I'm lost or I dont really get it. It wasn't C you were approaching but F. What brought C in...

[@SeanWilsonPiano]

Bb Lydian is Bb-C-D-E-F-G-A-Bb… it’s functioning as a dominant chord, since it has the same notes as C7… watch and study the Kurt Carr example in the video. C7 is C-E-G-Bb, no other Lydian scale has these notes. Back to your original question, that’s why Bb Lydian works. It approaches the chord 5 above it

[@vladimirtolentino5809]

I love C Lydian b7

[@etzereceron3302]

Can I use I - IV- V on Lydian sound? If not, what kind of chord I can use?

[@UTVols4Life]

Am I incorrect in calling those chords around 6:30 #11? That was my short hand when charting …now I know Lydian mode 👍🏽