Hypolydian
Hypolydian is the plagal form of the Lydian mode and counts as the sixth church mode. It has the finalis F and the range from C4 to C5. With the B natural above the finalis it is close to major; in practice this B is often lowered to B♭.
- Number
- 6th church mode
- Finalis
- F
- Tenor (reciting note)
- A
- Range
- C4–C5
- Authentic form
- Lydian
Lydian, a fourth lower
Hypolydian belongs to the authentic Lydian. Both close on F and use the same white keys. Lydian goes from F4 to F5, Hypolydian from C4 to C5. That means: the range of Hypolydian is exactly that of a C major scale, but the closing note is F. The tenor is traditionally A, in the Lydian mode C.
Hypolydian (range C4–C5)
The finalis F lies in the middle, the tenor A is marked too. From C4 to C5 these are exactly the notes of the C major scale, only with F as the closing note.
The same line with B♭ instead of B
The B is lowered to B♭ to avoid the augmented fourth F–B. Then the line resembles an F major scale from C.
For comparison: Lydian (range F4–F5)
The authentic form begins on the finalis. The augmented fourth F–B (marked) shapes its sound.
In the glossary: Plagal mode · Augmented fourth · Finalis
The B♭ problem
The augmented fourth F–B, the tritone, counted as undesirable in melody-making. In the Lydian and Hypolydian modes the B was therefore in practice often lowered to B♭. Then the tritone drops out, and the series of notes becomes a major scale on F. The “pure” Lydian sound with its raised fourth degree thus stayed more an ideal of theory. The details here are the traditional standard table; practice knows deviations.
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Related terms
Plagal modeLydianChurch modeHypomixolydianAugmented fourthFinalisAmbitus
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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