How to Use the LYDIAN Mode

Summary

This video script explores the Lydian mode, a major scale with a raised fourth, and its application in modern music. It discusses three methods of incorporating the Lydian mode: as a foundational 'crust' in key construction, as a 'cheese' by integrating the sharp fourth into harmonies, and as a 'pepperoni' topping in melodies over tonic chords. The script examines various examples from video games, illustrating how the Lydian mode adds a bright, expectant energy and otherworldly flavor to music, emphasizing the importance of its strategic use alongside other compositional elements.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The Lydian mode is a major scale with a raised fourth, characterized as the brightest of the seven major modes.
• 🔑 The sharp fourth scale degree is the characteristic note of the Lydian mode, which gives it a distinct sound when used over a major chord.
• 🍕 To incorporate the Lydian mode into music, composers can use it as the 'crust' by building melodies and chord progressions within the Lydian scale, even if the sharp fourth isn't always emphasized.
• 🧀 The 'cheese' method involves using the Lydian sound in the harmony, often through a major 7 sharp 11 chord, which stabilizes the dissonance of the Lydian note.
• 🌟 The Lydian mode can create an expectant energy, allowing music to sit on one chord without feeling resolved, providing a sense of stasis.
• 🎵 Examples from video game music like 'Sonic the Hedgehog' and 'Pokémon' illustrate the use of the Lydian mode to evoke specific moods and settings.
• 🎹 The 'pepperoni' approach to using the Lydian mode involves sprinkling the characteristic sharp fourth into the melody over the tonic chord for a surprising flavor.
• 🛸 The Lydian mode pairs well with the one to flat seven chord movement, creating a sense of resolution and brightness, as heard in themes from 'Super Mario Galaxy' and 'Final Fantasy Tactics Advance'.
• 🎧 The script discusses the challenges of maintaining a Lydian sound without resolving to another key, noting that composers often use techniques like tonic bass pedals to anchor the mode.
• 🎼 The video script highlights how the Lydian mode can be used to create a variety of moods, from adventurous to otherworldly, and its importance as a tool in a composer's toolkit.

Q & A

What is the Lydian mode and what is its characteristic note?

The Lydian mode is a major scale with a raised fourth. Its characteristic note, which distinguishes it from the major scale, is the sharp fourth scale degree.

How does the Lydian mode create a brighter sound compared to the major scale?

The Lydian mode is considered the brightest of the seven major modes because it features a sharp fourth, which adds a unique and uplifting quality to the sound, making it sound brighter than the major scale itself.

What are the three approaches to implementing modes like the Lydian into music as described in the script?

The three approaches are: 1) Using the mode as the 'crust' by building a melody and chord progression within the mode's scale without necessarily emphasizing the characteristic note over the tonic chord. 2) Using the mode as the 'cheese' by incorporating the characteristic sharp fourth within the harmony of the home chord, often as a major 7 sharp 11 chord. 3) Using the mode as a 'topping' by sprinkling the characteristic note of the mode into the melody over the tonic chord.

Can you give an example of how the 'crust' method is used in the script?

In the 'crust' method, the script uses the example of 'Sonic the Hedgehog's Green Hill Zone,' where the melody and harmony avoid the natural fourth (Bb) and only use the sharp fourth (B), creating an F Lydian sound over F major and E minor 7 chords.

How is the 'cheese' method exemplified in the video script?

The 'cheese' method is exemplified by the script through 'Ecrudiac City's theme' from Pokémon Gold and Silver, where an F major seven chord moves to a different voicing of an F Lydian chord, creating a colorful and unresolved sound.

What is the 'pepperoni' method and how is it demonstrated in the script?

The 'pepperoni' method involves using the characteristic note of the Lydian mode in the melody over the tonic chord in an otherwise normal major key piece. The script demonstrates this with 'The Lost Woods' theme from Ocarina of Time, where the melody outlines an F Lydian sound over an F major chord.

Why is it challenging to create music strictly in the Lydian mode according to the script?

Creating music strictly in the Lydian mode is challenging because the sharp fourth against the root is an unstable note, making it difficult to write music that doesn't accidentally resolve into a different key.

What is the significance of the sharp fourth in the Lydian mode as discussed in the script?

The sharp fourth in the Lydian mode is significant because it creates a bright and expectant energy. It allows music to remain on one harmonic place while still sounding interesting, providing a sense of stasis similar to suspended chords.

How does the script describe the use of the Lydian mode in 'Yoshi's Song'?

In 'Yoshi's Song,' the script describes the use of the Lydian mode by maintaining the root in the bass throughout the piece to anchor it within the Lydian mode, creating a forward-looking, expectant energy.

What is the difference between 'fake Lydian sounds' and actual Lydian mode usage as mentioned in the script?

The script differentiates 'fake Lydian sounds' as instances where the sharp fourth is used over a major chord that happens to be the IV chord in a major key, rather than the I chord where the sharp fourth naturally occurs, leading to a resolution to a different key rather than maintaining the Lydian mode.

How does the script illustrate the use of Lydian mode in 'Zelda's Lullaby'?

The script illustrates the use of the Lydian mode in 'Zelda's Lullaby' by starting with a C chord moving to a C6 sharp 4 chord, creating a bright Lydian sound over the tonic C note, and maintaining the Lydian sound throughout the piece without emphasizing the natural fourth (G).