Lydian ♯ 2 Mode Explained: Complete Guide with Note Names in All 12 Keys, and examples of its use.

13/12/2025

Lydian ♯ 2 Mode Explained, With Note Names in All 12 Keys

I share my piano improvisation recordings here as a journey in raw, musical self-expression, and I invite you to listen to these snapshots of my internal world; the technical notes are extras for those who wish to explore the music theory further.

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Stylised image of Ruth Pheasant’s piano, with overlaid colourful notation, shadows and light, representing the exotic sound of the Lydian sharp 2 mode. — One of my usual stylised pictures of my own piano — representing the colours I see in the Lydian ♯ 2 mode — unsettling darkness with a hint of light.

Learn about the Lydian ♯ 2 mode — its scale formula, parent scale source, and full note lists in all 12 keys. Improve your music theory knowledge for improvisation and composition.

The Lydian ♯ 2 mode (Lydian sharp 2 mode) is a mode I have enjoyed exploring in my piano improvisations lately. Depending on whether your improvisations are based more on an ambient wash of sound, as in modal static vamps; or more on harmonic progressions and structured form as in my own improvisations — the mood and style created by this mode can differ. Even though my own preference is for form and structure in melody and harmony when improvising with modes, I greatly appreciate the beauty in sound that more atmospheric leaning improvisers create.

If you want to create a lyrical melody coloured by the unique character of the Lydian ♯ 2, and something with some forward movement, harmonic progressions within the mode may be the way to go. (Harmonic progression doesn’t have to mean functional tonality, which would take you out of modal thinking.) If you are more attracted to the idea of an impressionistic wash of evocative sound shaped and shaded by the Lydian ♯ 2 mode, static vamps might be more your thing. Read more about the difference here: What I Mean by “Modal Improvisation” – Harmonic Movement Within the Modes

In my own improvisations, I have tended to find the Lydian ♯ 2 mode to have a mysterious, ambiguous, otherworldly and unsettled quality. It can feel quite suspended and unresolved, much like the Lydian mode. I also find it can have a slightly darker and more exotic feel compared to the Lydian mode.

As the name suggests, the Lydian ♯ 2 mode is like the Lydian mode, but with a sharpened (raised by a semitone) 2nd degree. It is the 6th mode of the harmonic minor scale, and the scale formula is: 1 – ♯ 2 – 3 – ♯ 4 – 5 – 6 – 7.

Lydian ♯2 modes — all 12 keys

Here is a table showing the note names and parent scales for the Lydian ♯ 2 mode, in all 12 keys:

If you’re viewing this table on mobile, turning it sideways will give a better view.

Lydian ♯2 mode	Note names	Parent harmonic minor scale
C Lydian ♯2	C D♯ E F♯ G A B	E harmonic minor
D♭ Lydian ♯2	D♭ E F G A♭ B♭ C	F harmonic minor
D Lydian ♯2	D E♯ F♯ G♯ A B C♯	F♯ harmonic minor
E♭ Lydian ♯2	E♭ F♯ G A B♭ C D	G harmonic minor
E Lydian ♯2	E F𝄪 G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯	G♯ harmonic minor
F Lydian ♯2	F G♯ A B C D E	A harmonic minor
G♭ Lydian ♯2	G♭ A B♭ C D♭ E♭ F	B♭ harmonic minor
G Lydian ♯2	G A♯ B C♯ D E F♯	B harmonic minor
A♭ Lydian ♯2	A♭ B C D E♭ F G	C harmonic minor
A Lydian ♯2	A B♯ C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯	C♯ harmonic minor
B♭ Lydian ♯2	B♭ C♯ D E F G A	D harmonic minor
B Lydian ♯2	B C𝄪 D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯	D♯ harmonic minor (or E♭ harmonic minor)

The parent harmonic minor is always a major third above the Lydian ♯2 tonic.

Some keys necessarily involve double sharps to preserve correct scale degrees (a scale typically has to use every letter of the musical alphabet, rather than doubling one of them).