Chords in E Lydian

E Lydian is built from the notes E, F#, G#, A#, B, C# and D#. Its scale carries 5 sharps. Harmonising that scale in thirds gives seven chords — 3 majors, 3 minors and 1 diminished — starting on E as the I. The chord on the fifth degree is B, a major V, so E Lydian has the leading tone that makes a B-to-E cadence sound final.

Beyond those seven, E Lydian commonly borrows Em (i), F#dim (iiø), G (bIII), Am (iv) and Bm (v) from the parallel minor — the mixture chords that give a progression somewhere unexpected to go.