A Lydian Pentatonic Tres Cubano Scale
Tres Cubano scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
A Lydian Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Lydian Pentatonic scale is a mystical five-note scale that highlights the unique Lydian character. On Tres Cubano, it contains the notes A, C#, D#, E, G#. It creates a floating, celestial atmosphere and is often used in modern jazz and ambient music to provide a sense of brightness and space without the density of a full scale. Commonly used in Fusion, Ambient, Film Scores, New Age. Notable players include Allan Holdsworth, Joe Satriani, Chick Corea. Use over Maj7#11, Maj9 chords. Perfect for dreamy, non-resolving passages in fusion and ambient music.
Notes: A, C#, D#, E, G#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 4A, 5P, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 #3 4 5
Formula: 4-W-H-4-H
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: chinese
Musical Character
Highlights the #4 tritone in just 5 notes, creating maximum 'floating' sensation with minimum complexity. A shortcut to cinematic sounds.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Fusion, Ambient, Film Scores, New Age
Notable players: Allan Holdsworth, Joe Satriani, Chick Corea
How to Use the A Lydian Pentatonic Scale
Use over Maj7#11, Maj9 chords. Perfect for dreamy, non-resolving passages in fusion and ambient music.
Origin & Background
Modern theoretical extraction for guitarists seeking the Lydian color in a more playable pentatonic form.
How to Play A Lydian Pentatonic on Tres Cubano
Begin by locating A on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Lydian Pentatonic scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A Lydian Pentatonic scale contains 3 sharps (C#, D#, G#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the A Lydian Pentatonic scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in A. Try a A5 - E5 - G#5 progression. This scale is especially effective in fusion contexts.
Tres Cubano Tips
Practice the A Lydian Pentatonic scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 5 notes before building speed. Aim for a ethereal quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Lydian Pentatonic is the Five-note Lydian subset. View A Lydian scale
The A Lydian Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (A, C#, D#, E, G#). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Tres Cubano with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Lydian Pentatonic
The A Lydian Pentatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.