The SECRETS of the Lydian #9 Mode - The Undiscovered Scale!

In this episode of Everything Music we explore the SECRETS or the Lydian #9 Scale. A truly beautiful and haunting backdrop for soundscapes and vibe. This is the 6th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale but you would never know you are listening to part of a Harmonic Minor Scale. Check out the short piece I wrote for the episode as I begin to explore the unusual intervals and harmonies that are contained in this scale. This is a MUST know for Film Composers and will become an important part of your tool kit!
The scale in this video is A Lydian #9:
A B# C# D# E F# G# or 1 #2 3 #4 5 6 7
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[@FostersAccount]

The sounds of an old, forgotten, tragic and unresolved great mystery.

[@karlthomas6995]

Nicely put! I was thinking that beyond its contemporary nature you definitely hear tonalities from more classical eras, almost like a ghosty Bach-Mozart hybrid.

[@argenteus8314]

You hit the nail on the head, mysterious and tragic are exactly the words that popped into my head.

[@drewolfy]

I watched three of your videos last night and then spent 9 hours behind my piano playing until 8 in the morning. after watching this I have a feeling tonight will be the same.

[@PeterLaman]

or sleep deprivation!

[@iiWNMii]

John Cavanaugh agreed. Misplaced enthusiasm can do that.

[@surveil3548]

d wolfy Do it man, have rests in the marathons tho, then rest for a day maybe

[@cybrunel1016]

Just wondering. Have you had many sleepless nights since last year, and did your playing improve ? If you don't mind me asking, is there anything in particular you may have focused on ? I'm starting over on keys so...it's been a while. Peace.

[@mariopierre]

I'm so there with you.

[@DJ-3maj]

This video and scale opened by mind to new musical possibilities. I play jazz and black metal and this scale gives you the feel like you are in a dream from which you cant wake up. Thanks Rick!

[@dougschrecengostii3656]

It is refreshing to see your comment "I play jazz and black metal." I am metal through and through, and my searching through theory was always for the scales that can instill terror, darkness, unsettling feelings of woe that is black metal. Perhaps that is how I find myself at 36 newly discovering modal options. Thanks for the great comment and thank you, Rick!!! \m/

[@ChristianVirial]

@@Lithuania8634 That's what every 0815 metal band does, kinda boring

[@donjenaro79]

a really great comperison and image!

[@mmeditatio]

yeah that's a great way to put it

[@onevoiceinc]

Wow, what a beautiful composition! Lydian #9 has always been "one of those other scales in harmonic minor other than harmonic minor or phrygian dominant" that I've mapped out but never really tried in a musical context. Thank you for taking the time to explore it, share it, and then put it into a practical shape. Never realized how beautiful a scale it was, and I'm a huge lydian user. There's something magical in music itself, being that there's always some surprise waiting to be discovered.

[@glennk1931]

It is a hauntingly beautiful scale. Love the beautiful arrangement Rick.

[@radiokid2]

Your orch. piece was artfully done...instead of just having lydian harmonies being dropped in like bricks by the left hand, you used various lines of timbre to outline them. That took some thought and effort and displayed the lydian's potential beautifully!

[@MusicPancho]

7:50 was outstanding

[@andrelousada]

With so many years studying tonality, these modes are a real mind twist!

[@vleaky3430]

Time to unlearn some stuff

[@mathieudager4234]

It’s 2020 and I’m still watching this vid. Thanks Rick. The sound of Lydian #9 reminds me of some movie scoring like the fracture or the soundtrack to a documentary on some gloomy murder like the Amityville murder. Shrouded in dark mistery

[@RandyLott]

The footage should have been driving in Boston. It would certainly exemplify the typical mood while driving on the Pike. Jokes aside, this piece keeps bringing me to a particular word. Forlornness. This exemplifies the very definition of the word. Very well done.

[@JesterMasque]

Oh yes This has Beethoven all over it! Ironically, your piece also reminds me of a lot of cable mystery movie soundtracks. Its the movement to that #7 and hearing the #9 in the chord that keeps you on edge. Thanks so much Rick for breaking down this absolutely gorgeous, melancholy corner of music theory!

[@RickBeato]

You're very welcome! I like coming up with these short pieces so I can play them for my kids. I am starting to teach them film scoring so you will start to see more images over the music. They are helping me with the concepts behind the video and what works with the music. It's fun!

[@bsharpmajorscale]

B# Dim? Finally, someone's talking about REAL music. ;P

[@badradish2116]

nah bro you forgot the flat /13/ part. "B# dim b13". lmfao.

[@TitoSilversax]

Finally a real comment about real music 😂🤣

[@laurant4282]

Why are you obsessed with B#?

[@bsharpmajorscale]

@@laurant4282 It all started in music theory class in college, talking about enharmonics and how B# would have double flats. Then I combined it with the pun on "major general" to give me my user name that I have pretty much everywhere.

[@yarlodek5842]

Nahh, its D double flat man.

[@matiasgarciaacosta1040]

Rick I have a Roland synthesizer for guitar and a footswitch, so I can hold triads and basses and easily play all your triads or polychords with the guitar, I was just practicing triads for Lydian # 9 and my friend says it sounds like The Omen !!! hahaha, thank you very much for allowing me to terrorize my friends with your triads, I really learn a lot with your channel, thanks again and please do not stop making videos ever !!

[@MaimiZhang]

The piece gave me smile. It sounds very bright to me 🥰

[@ANON0061]

Rick Beato is the best music teacher there is

[@edzielinski]

These songs are still with me years later. As soon as it starts playing, I'm back in that floating, haunting, yet incredibly beautiful musical landscape. This piece would be stunning if played by a live orchestra.

[@cybrunel1016]

I haven't tickled the ivories in almost 30 yrs, having focused mostly on guitar/bass/drums. Rick's lessons did me in, I'm getting a MIDI keyboard and anticipate long hours of study just around the corner. Here we go again, this addiction we call music. Nice comp. btw, haunting.

[@dougschrecengostii3656]

Simply brilliant. Haplessly forlorn! I love it. The imagery during your piece fits perfectly. It seems there is much potential in Lydian #9. Thanks for your most excellent videos, Rick!

[@JanisKlinnert]

So much depth in those chords!!! So haunting so beautiful! I love it!!! Makes you see images in your head!

[@maadmuisica]

6:05 - super cool sounds; I'm inspired. thanks for the great video

[@mensamin]

Your composition along with the video is breath-taking, this mode sound like sadness/confussion to me, loved it :3

[@joskun]

I think its melancholy because of of the slow movement and the high notes and I think at parts its calm and at parts like 8:03 - 07 is both melodic and beatiful

[@Dajasons]

This is...really flipping cool... I will have to master this scale as it is amazingly beautiful and complex in emotion.

[@jiminyguitar]

Seriously One of thr Best channel on KZbin. I get so much from this channel ( more then my collge.. )

[@vladimirivan3963]

You Rick, open new universes for musicians with each and every that video you post. Can't thank you enough!

[@davidsixstring]

I'm really loving the sound of the Lydian #9 scale and the harmonic possibilities! Really dramatic and eerie sounding. Instant movie soundtrack. Thanks Rick for another awesome video. Cheers

[@PeterLaman]

Rick, your videos are a very valuable resource for learning! Thanks a lot!

[@asukalangleysoryu6695]

Your piece reminds me of the soundtrack of Amnesia: The Dark Descent

[@diogocostajazz2234]

Man, 2 years ago i was using this mode on a ideia i had, but i didn't check all the possibilities i could do with this mode, thank you so much for the video, and by the way, your original footage sounds amazing i loved it. Keep on with these brilliant videos. Thanks.

[@Al59redux]

Lovely mode, lovely piece. Thank you, Rick.

[@MrJUNNY7777]

With all respect; you're one's of the more cultured person in music theory that I have knowledge in all my life... You're a real genius in the matter... Thank you for your wisdom!! Excuse my English 😣

[@abbasalikhan]

thank you so much rick and the piece at the end is amazing

[@Eduaro2U]

Well this has given me something to think about. Thanks Rick.

[@jinjer9313]

You're an absolute genius. I just recently discovered your videos, and I haven't figured out what is most mind blowing. The vast amount of knowledge on theory, your insane skills on guitar, or your back story. Maybe it's your teaching skill that's most incredible. I learned more in an hour, and transferred it on my own for the next 6 and it's still spawning off new discoveries. Thank you so much!

[@guscox9651]

6 hours! Envious

[@arturomolinamacias8989]

Man. This videos inspire me so much. Thank you.

[@tomasrevillacortazar6722]

WOW. The mind boggles :-) LOVELY!

[@johnnygault365]

unbelievable man .....it all makes sense ....transposing all of those notes to the guitar , learning the resulting scales and jamming along is amazing ....I have never played better thank you

[@rangerson]

so interesting Rick you are the best teacher I've ever had thank you sooooo much i follow all of your videos they are really great mind opening and inspiring thank you !!!

[@jmeditation]

Beautiful piece at the end, wow!

[@arthursantiago100]

I think I heard that composition in a childhood nightmare. You are right. Both haunting and beautiful. You are truly a wild man Rick. 😊

[@junsoriano7627]

Very cool. This is worth watching. I learned a lot. Now I have a mode for my mystery and thriller compositions! Nice video as well. Thanks a lot!

[@malcocreative]

THAT WAS AMAZNG!

[@BrokTheLoneWolf]

Holy man that piece is so pretty! I’m gonna explore this scale/mode!

[@jrestrepo08]

Very cool! Thanks Rick

[@kylebarnett350]

this is awesome! thank you so much

[@sohaibak1985]

Also Holy Jesus what a composition! :D

[@BrunoWiebelt]

just discovered this treasure Thank you! you such a kind person

[@wakingupfrom]

i like how knowledgable you are about modes

[@Hagai-Rehavia-fingerstyle]

so moving and deep! Appreciate!!

[@Ga7atTown]

The music you made is beautiful

[@burningwatermusic]

Also am a fan of the Lydian b7. Excellent vid, Rick!

[@reneraymond7807]

Fantastic!

[@Wayne_Robinson]

Your videos are very helpful as I resume my long-neglected interest in theory and composition. Thank you and please keep up the good work! I'm a bit less ignorant with each episode. No whining here, lol.

[@danielmanahan692]

Sharing Great video as always and buying your book. you are the best.

[@TheBassMan533]

I have been a long time fan of exploring the inquisitive and "different" sonorities of the Harmonic and Melodic minor modes. The Lydian #9 is really interesting to me cause it's a darker spin on the bright Lydian, real interesting to play around with, In future videos I think it will be great if you would share some ideas regarding chord progressions and melody using these modes. I think just a few minutes of you talking about it would be valuable to people who are just starting to get around these modes themselves. Great lesson Rick, keep em coming!

[@javiermedina5313]

you can have a darker lydian if you add a b2 in this scale ,it's the beautyful thing about this, you can mix, alter and and combine scales as you want.

[@wakingupfrom]

great piece at the end.

[@michaelbutler7075]

Rick, I have probably watched all of your videos and can never adequately tell you how grateful I am to have you truly open up my ears to all these new modal sounds. I especially love your endorsement of the piano virtuoso Ayden Esen. I sincerely hope one day he does become a household name in the same breadth as Keith Jarret and Oscar Peterson, etc. I would say, imho, that Angelo Badalamenti certainly is the Ayden Esen of composition, too. I would just love if you could devote a lesson to his composition style.

[@rtrowbridgedixon]

Michael Butler I

[@Poeme340]

The Mysterium-the eternal question-beautiful.

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

Didn't realise this variation was so versatile! Love that a minor major seven too! 🤘

[@mdmsr2000]

hey Rick. Thanks for all you do. I'm 62. played every instrument in the school band. a horn band. but was never taught any theory. and hadn't been in a band since. I'm retired and want to play with music as a hobby. have a brother that's a pro musician. plays base for the Pentones. They play for Tropical Isle on bourbon street in New Orleans. And he's able to support his family with that. He did a session with little feat but it never got published. anyway, This stuff is understandable. but overwhelming. I'm trying to learn it. I understand it needs to be memorized. LOL. I'll see what I can do. THANKS for putting it out there.

[@RamblinDan]

Love the imagery as well, this is my hobby. Learn music theory to get composition ideas and apply to visual scenes gathered from driving my car with a GoPro and a drone

[@MarcoEscalante1]

your videos rule man, very interesting subjects and great explanations

[@Ritermann]

This is amazing!!!

[@leviandades777]

Beautiful

[@fredformulas7256]

Beautiful piece

[@Hatmatrix]

It's a beautiful mode and your explanations are always sufficient for the understanding. You shouldn't pay attention to the complainers. Watching that video, I couldn't avoid thinking about calling you Rick "Hans Zimmer" Beato, which is intended to be a compliment. Very nice job.

[@JakobBruhnke]

What complainers?

[@Audiorial]

what a beauty of a scale!

[@zurckoni]

whew! great stuff. thanks.

[@glennk1931]

Interesting, and beautiful.

[@josevictorzambrana5052]

Great composition!

[@amedeo1993]

Definitely Heard a Supertramp Song in AMaj to ALydian! Another GREAT VIDEO RICK!!....Thank You and think i will Buy Myself a Xmas Gift aka The Beato Book:-))...

[@Dolores5000]

Fantastic

[@danirobinson5007]

Awesome!

[@agent_sickx3593]

Love the sound , pimpin stuff

[@alexblake3818]

Awesome stuff!!!

[@slickwillie3376]

Your videos are awesome!

[@Pedozzi]

The more you dig in rick's channel, the more gold you find

[@rootytootbananaboy]

What an interesting sound!

[@kunzangrangdrol]

you omit the AMaj7b5 chord. I am loving this chord. it is so versatile. pops up in tons of scales... including this one.

[@Cestariarts]

Genius!

[@unfetteredaxes1032]

You are a genius!

[@LukasVlcek]

This is great.

[@philipbrown2225]

wow ! awesome ! that piece just from the notes of that one scale ! ? ! cool !

[@RickBeato]

Yes, there are only seven notes used in this video.

[@pyrotas]

It sure yields some nice arpeggios on guitar!

[@dream9831]

Myy lyre harp is tuned to this scale, I'm loving the Lydian harmonies

[@abbasalikhan]

is it only me or it seems this scale doesnt resolve and looks like its always going somewhere?

[@distantstorm3808]

No, it's not just you. I get the same feeling, but it's also what makes it intriguing to me.

[@abbasalikhan]

Papa Arthritis absolutely !

[@sarajamus]

abbasalikhan Yeah totally unresolved. Keeps you on the edge of your seat! Lol

[@joelzaper]

I'm a little bit late, but I think this comes from unfamiliarity with the scale. It wants to resolve to a similar scale that you're comfortable with. We feel the same way at first with things such as the lydian mode, when we first hear them. One may hear it as simply a piece centered around the 4, and never resolving. Once we become familiar with the scale, it begins to feel like it's own distinct tonality. Just a thought, I very well may be wrong!

[@sadman5916]

@@joelzaper Exactly!! The first time I found out about the standard Greek modes of the major scale, Dorian and locrian would always irritate me, because my brain had been programmed to resolved to the major root.

[@rickorick51]

Cool mode! I just got back from a rehearsal and checked in. I started playing around with it and it sounds like Beethoven Moonlight Sonata in some places. I have the chart out in the car I'll get it tomorrow and compare. Thanks!

[@CaliforniaBrowngrass]

Wow--I don't know who Lydia was but she sure came up with a lot of cool stuff. Takes me forever to get through these videos because I, too, get caught up with playing it.

[@royverges]

I was playing an A major arpeggio the other day, and played a half-step below each note. All of those notes can be practiced in A Lydian #2, for bebop, Western swing, bluegrass, whatever.

[@SimonFransman]

This is awesome Rick! Thank you :) Sub'd.

[@fsmalaquias]

Oh God! This is so hard !

[@JCloyd-ys1fm]

The Phrygian Dominant is my favorite mode from the Harmonic Minor. I'm going to try and combine those arpeggios with it and see how it sounds. Thanks.

[@TitoSilversax]

How’d it go combining Phrygian dominant & Lydian #9?

[@larrymm1963]

this is great

[@rasputozen]

It just occurred to me after watching the video over the lydian #9 piece that the modes are like the seasons. Every season has its own feel and things special to it you can't get in any other.

[@RickBeato]

Agreed!

[@marcrummusic]

Nice one Rick. I have a Lydian #9 / diminished piece on my channel called Echleon. I like the chords derived from the scale but I particularly like the simple bass line in the chorus of my song. Lydian diminished is an awesome scale!! 😁🎶🎸👍

[@PowerRedBullTypology]

I can not find it marc!

[@jazzerson7087]

Terrific scale. Just trying to think of a way to fit it into my guitar playing. Perhaps over an A major 7 +11/minor major chord before approaching a G # 7 + 5 altered chord or something.

[@argenteus8314]

This is my favorite mode, though I'd known it by the apparently less common name of Lydian #2 (I don't know why Lydian #2 and Lydian #9 refer to the same mode, but they do), which is how it's listed on Ian Ring's site (along with the even less common, not to mention confusing, name of "aeolian harmonic"). It's just got this wonderful mood to it, a sense of mystery and tragedy, yet not without light and hope.

[@CC-iq2pe]

Rick. I have been watching your videos for a few years now. I am always impressed by the knowledge and experience that you convey to the viewer. Unfortunately, I am not clear how it is that there are several different triads for each step in the Harmonic Minor modes like all other non-natural modes.

[@passionforguns]

Glad nobody walked out of those woods with shovels and plastic bags! Lol!

[@mylesbrathwaite8010]

I hope you read this comment... When you were playing 7th chords, it sounded EXACTLY like a really well known Classical song, Especially from 4:12!

[@goldsmithstrings6842]

Is it just me or is there a subtle melodic minor element there??Intruiging. Great stuff as per usual RB