Steve Vai Magic Chords (The Lydian Mode with One Chord Shape)

A QJamTracks lesson about the chords Lydian mode like guitarist Steve Vai uses. Learn how easy it is to create the Lydian mode with just one chord shape moving up and down the neck on your guitar. By using the open E chord for the E Lydian Mode and the open A chord for the A Lydian mode and the D chord for the D Lydian Mode you’ll create beautiful, dreamy, uplifting and transparent Lydian chord progressions resembling the style and chord progression of master guitarist Steve Vai.

[@daviday87]

Just recently discovered your channel thanks to the KZbin recommended algorithms and loving it. Thanks for all the amazing work you're sharing with us!

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Davide!

[@satchrules101]

Hi would it still be Lydian if u weren’t using the open string.. with the chords .. but still using the same chords?

[@polygraphovich]

@@satchrules101 Yes, still Lydian. Those open strings add more color/ambiance to the chord.

[@bgeraldc]

I’ve been playing for more than 30 yrs. I’ve learned more from your videos in the last 6 months than all the time before. I greatly appreciate what you are doing thanks and please keep the information coming

[@leewithey2014]

Excellent!!!

[@darrenbrignell8482]

OMG where have you been all my life I'll have to watch your many videos over and over until it sinks in but the many years of trying to study modes from books which just didn't work has made it so much clearer. Thank you so much for sharing your infinite knowledge of music theory.

[@QJamTracks]

Thank you Darren!

[@studiopen]

Such a great lesson!! I’ve never heard modes and chords explained so simply and clearly before!

[@QJamTracks]

That's my goal Peter. I'm glad you like it. Thanks

[@noimspartacus4357]

@@QJamTracks vvvv

[@bjornleifeld4442]

Hey there! First i have to say that you made me save a lot of Money because you are one of a kind teacher. You make me very excited to try out everything you just tought. Steve Vai - Giant balls of gold is what came instant into my mind after hearing E and F sharp! Thx!!! 🥰🤘🤘👋

[@pamelapethoud9058]

Excellent. Finally somebody explaining the modes in a simple format.

[@QJamTracks]

I try to keep it als clear as possible. Thanks Pamela!

[@lifeishealinghealthwellnes1979]

Thanks so much for making the lydian mode easier to understand.

[@daisolokh8212]

I love this lesson teacher 🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️💝

[@matiascba85]

Mate you explain very well. Easy and clear to undestand. Thanks!

[@waynejames2014]

Very nice way to demonstrate how to put open chords to excellent use! THanks

[@marcolam8360]

Always enjoy and learn a great deal from your well thought out lessons,keep up the good work man😊

[@coelhocointech9841]

Fantastic

[@fabiofanelli6030]

KZbin is the best invention of the century... It allows great musician like this guy to teach music like never before! Wonderfull!

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Fabio for subscribing!

[@slickrick109]

You know I have done this very thing before but I just didn’t realize how great it works with the Lydian mode. I just had one of those ah ha moments thanks to you. I listened to a lot of your jam tracks but I always thought it was just too complex for me but as you break it down it is really starting to finally sink in. Thanks so much, you’re a fantastic guitarist and teacher and I’ll definitely be looking for more of your lesson based videos. Thanks again

[@QJamTracks]

Thank you!

[@MOHANKUMAR-sh4pn]

thank you sir 👍🏼

[@producermind9030]

Nice! My favourite mode!

[@TapanDas-og1zn]

Very fruitful

[@DannyOlbi-xe2ov]

Great Music teacher 👍

[@EclecticSceptic]

Nice lesson thanks

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks and you're welcome!

[@reinortega23]

I love it, nice to meet you Rob...

[@QJamTracks]

Hi R.E. Thanks! :)

[@jimmeymcgee2840]

Great lesson thank you for all the Lydian lesson now let’s do the Aeolian & mixo Lydian

[@anthonytsi]

I learn by ear, so this is very helpful. Thanks so much.

[@mauricegale6660]

Awesome - simple clear and great

[@lumpilumumba8515]

Thank you for closing a gap so that I can begin to understand or hear better Thx

[@QJamTracks]

Thank you Lumpi for using the videos!

[@donaldruttan5103]

Great lesson mate

[@henrykelly1183]

Been a subscriber for a while and always so impressed by your videos and how they teach harmony/theory in a way that doesn't over simplify but makes everything approachable.

[@QJamTracks]

Thank you!

[@cybrunel1016]

The 1,2,5 sounded like " Xanadu " by Rush. Made me want to break my fast on honeydew. Nice lesson, thx.

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Cy. I guess more bands use this concept :)

[@satchrules101]

Gold lesson !

[@francisphillip]

Excellent Video, Brilliant Lesson, Absolutely fantastic explanation.

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Phillip!

[@paulhill7052]

Thanks you have made huge difference in my guitar journey

[@benkayembe8368]

The most beautiful mode #Lydian 🙌🏼

[@QJamTracks]

It is...

[@matthewmedina1802]

Thank you! I really enjoy your channel🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@firegarden3857]

Thank you so much for your awesome work. You helped me so much on my way to be a better Guitar-player.

[@enigmaticloremaster1700]

Great stuff, well presented and explained. You are an excellent teacher and musician in my books.😊😊

[@frankpiccart3914]

Very clear and systematic lesson. Thank You, and see You back soon!!

[@JohnnyGuitarRocks]

Awesome lesson! I'm going to have a lot of fun utilizing what I have learned with my Looper pedal today.

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Johnny! Have lots of fun mate!

[@EricGeertse]

Awesome Lesson!!

[@QJamTracks]

Dank je Erik!

[@RichardVu9869]

Thanks so much for easable understanding lesson for establishing Lydian Chord Progression I-II-V in Chord voicing

[@menfalling]

real nice tutorial

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks!!

[@mickhunt1965ii]

great, the work of genius is to simplify

[@sandrocavali9810]

Great

[@80sday36]

best guitar lesson channel ever so far

[@QJamTracks]

Thank you very much for you nice comment!

[@davismcmoney5342]

Great lesson, thanks!

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Davis!!

[@manifestluxurylifestyles9911]

Awesome man, i love Lydian and Mixo.

[@osvaldosanguinet7758]

Excelente !!! Gracias ! Abrazo from Uruguay!

[@zuldeth]

Excelente, gracias.

[@PAUL.72]

thanks ,,your lesson is absolutely majestic.

[@ccapdepon]

tk you - great video - you have opened up new ground for me

[@QJamTracks]

Nice to hear!

[@gregdemeterband]

Thanks

[@QJamTracks]

Hi Greg. You're welcome mate!

[@carlosfelez9585]

Great!!!

[@ozseyhan1253]

Hey man, thanks a lot for you lessons. I learned guitar fully by myself only with yt videos and i never knew how modal chord progressions really work out. I always felt like im doing a mistake here and there and i didnt know why. THANKS soo much for you lessons and the clear explanation because now i know how that stuff works ! Keep going!

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Oz. Good to see the videos are useful :)

[@rushabhsahare6299]

You are amazing!!!!👏✌️😎

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks for your comment Rushabh!

[@patrickbenoit9417]

Crystal clear. Thank you !

[@adhishnatekar2376]

awesome lesson !

[@CROSSFIRE19604]

Thanks, amazing tune!

[@QJamTracks]

Thank you Leonard!

[@MrOscyn]

Very nice lesson! Thanks for the backing tracks!

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks! And..you're welcome :)

[@bluechicken8626]

Hey guys just want to share what's in my head: The E major chord has this 1 - 3 - 5 which is E - G# - B. So if we are playing the E lydian mode then the 1 (E) is E lydian, 3 (G#) is G# minor, and 3 (B) is B major. If the backing track plays an E chord you can play the G# minor scale shape or the B major scale shape because it's basicly the same part as E lydian. The same thing goes to A lydian. A major chord also has this 1 - 3 - 5 which is A - C# - E. 1 (A) is A lydian, 3 (C#) is C# minor, and 3 (E) is E major. D lydian. D major chord 1- 3 - 5 which is D - B - A 1 (D) is D lydian, 3 (B) is B minor, and 3 (A) is A major.

[@papunAlicea]

Thanks so much...great...keep on...God bless

[@QJamTracks]

You're very welcome Jose! Have fun with the tutorials and backing tracks.

[@dmcmac9619]

World class content. It is very challenging for my intermediate playing skills (violin and baritone ukulele) but I am ready for the challenge. I am wondering if you sell any books?

[@QBRX]

Yah, love it!

[@froblivion8284]

Only happened upon your channel recently - you could be the missing link for me!!! Seriously great videos - up there with the best of them easily. Thanks again 👍

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Bryan!

[@HarlanHarvey76]

So many 2-5-1s!! Great lesson my friend. I just found you. Hope you're still doing videos

[@QJamTracks]

Hi Harlan, Thanks ! Sure I'm doing a video every week.

[@mixed34]

Thank you for the video, your backing tracks are awesome!

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks!! :)

[@petervansuijlekom2278]

Goede uitleg Rob! Zeer professioneel :)

[@QJamTracks]

Dank je Peter! 👍

[@MyriophyllumTuberculatum]

Amazing, thank you !

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks! You're absolutely welcome :)

[@thewisdomwithin7332]

Hi, can you give examples of the songs using these modes? It is heavenly.

[@QJamTracks]

You could listen to Boston Rain Melody, The Riddle and K'm Pee Du Wee by Steve Vai or Flying in a blue dream by Joe Satriani to start with

[@berdri100]

Thank for your very nice job ! You deserve so much more subscribers ! Théo Drira.

[@QJamTracks]

Thank you so much for your comment Theo!

[@innersense432]

Very useful trick . Many thanks.👍👍 If possible please help: What could be the chord progressions for flattened 2nd LYDIAN Scale. This scale is used in Indian Classical music. Scale as:C Db E F# G A B C All the best.

[@kytronnbueno1428]

Thank You for Your Excellent Videos!

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Kytronn! I appreciate your comments 👍

[@TheFullbend]

Awesome as always man! Keep rocking!

[@QJamTracks]

Thanks Matheus! :)

[@donkloos9078]

Very nice lesson. Question: So to play in E Lydian, can I just play F#maj scale over E?

[@maudel71]

FROM ROMA ......si puo'' fare anche con gli altri modi ? per esempio il misolidio ? grazie

[@ilredeldeserto]

In 3:43 I think there is a mistake: if we are in Lydian, it is the II degree which is dominant, not the V degree! V degree is maj7 in fact it's the Ionian

[@QJamTracks]

Yes, I should have said just the Vth degree. I didn't mean a dominant 7 chord. Although the major chord on the Vth still brings the music back to the tonic. In fact I shouldn't talk about tonic and dominant at all, because we have to think modal and avoid functional harmony.

[@martinpaul3383]

Amaaaaaaaaazing

[@barryhanson9991]

LOVE THIS VIDEO!!! THANKS

[@donkloos9078]

OK, see my note below: F# Major scale has one note that isn't in E Lydian, I found (F). However adusting that one note down half step produced B Maj scale. So, I can use the Maj scale fret board pattern of a 5th above the Lydian root. 🎼🎵🎶🎸

[@LinkingWorlds]

At the beginning, why didn't you play a C chord on both examples , we would have compared with the same reference harmony. The first chord was C major ok, but the second contained a 9th, and may no 5th ?

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Xanadu - Rush

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

I tried to use lydian in the lead break: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enXQm3pnnc-Ghbc&ab_channel=ChrisDavies

[@robertpetre9378]

You have to play the Lydian scale on an Ibanez but if you get it a Steve Vai signature Ibanez lol

[@manmohanmannu2007]

Sir which guitar effect u using rply

[@QJamTracks]

Hi There. I'm using a Fractal Systems Axe FX II via USB Inerface into my DAW software. It's one of the best effects out there used by many great guitarists like Steve Vai.

[@daisolokh8212]

❤❤❤❤❤🎉

[@fndTenorio]

Xanadu, Rush

[@MsDavo123]

How about playing one chord and sound Lydian take E shaped major chord substitute maj 3d with augmented 4th you get lydian chord Satriani uses it in Flying Blue Dream

[@QJamTracks]

Yes that's absolutely a lydian chord (Flying in a blue Dream: Awesome song by the way). But one chords has a little less harmonic context. That's way I'd like to play it in combination with more harmonic degrees.

[@SRSR-pc8ti]

Rush Xanadu

[@D.A.T.GRINGO]

Xanadu

[@Turboy65]

The "fingerprint" of Major scale is the order of its whole and half steps. Which is Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half. Write it out as WWHWWWH. The fingerprint of Lydian is Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half. WWWHWWH. But, both "fingerprints" are both part of the larger pattern of Western modal music which is rooted in the Ionian (Major) mode. That pattern is, when repeated, WWHWWWHWWHWWWH, and you will notice that the fingerprints of both Lydian and Major modes are contained within it. As are the other five modes. (Dorian, Phrygian, Mixolydian, Aeolian(minor), and Locrian. All these modes are derived from where you start on the pattern of whole and half steps. That is the foundation of modes. There are seven places to start, and seven modes. Now if you alter the base pattern, you are now dealing with non-Western scales. Such as Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Hungarian Minor, etc. And using the same principle, they each have their own set of modes as well. The way to construct those modes is the same.

[@Nsa-ss8bw]

....some words over Zappa would have been nice.

[@QJamTracks]

Indeed. Zappa is also known for his Lydian songs. We forget sometimes that Zappa is the musical father of Steve Vai. You can here al lot of Zappa ideas in the music of Steve Vai. Thanks for pointing this out Nsa!

[@mrmohantyexperiments]

I think I'm trippin balls cuz I hear some amount of reverb on your voice.

[@QJamTracks]

That could well be...

[@radiozelaza]

Fifth in Lydian cannot be literally dominant, because you cannot build a V7 chord on it, strictly speaking

[@tomg2217]

"The Master of the Space Age Guitar"? Was that an Expo '92 reference? 😉