STRINGSCALES

A lydian diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G#, A, B, C, D#, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

A string: A, B, C, D#, E, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

D string: D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, C at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10

G string: G#, A, B, C, D#, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11

B string: B, C, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E, F#, G#, A, B, C, D#, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

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A lydian diminished

The lydian diminished scale, the fourth mode of the harmonic major scale, crosses lydian's raised 4th with a minor 3rd. The result outlines a minor chord with a #11 and major 7th available, an ambiguous, film-noir color. It rewards slow playing that lets the b3 against #4 tension speak.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

i

Am
B

II

Bmaj
C

bIII+

Caug
D♯

#iv°

D♯dim
E

V

Emaj
F♯

vi°

F♯dim
G♯

vii

G♯m

Same notes, different mode

A lydian diminished uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

E harmonic major

lydian diminished in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Hold the minor 3rd (C) against the raised 4th (D#): the film-noir rub at the heart of A lydian diminished.
  • Use it over a m(maj7) chord with a #11, or over diminished harmony that needs a lyrical top line.
  • As harmonic major's fourth mode it shares notes with the harmonic major a 4th below A; recycle those fingerings.
  • Play it slowly: this scale rewards sustained tones and voice-leading more than runs.

How to play A lydian diminished on guitar

Open A is the tonic, and both E strings sit a fifth above it, so a drone in fifths comes free before you fret a note. B rings open as the second, which means four of the six open strings are live notes. Roots reach from fret 0 on the A string out to fret 10 on the B string. Barre the E form at fret 5.

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