STRINGSCALES

B♭ lydian diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12

A string: A, Bb, C, Db, E, F, G, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12

D string: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, Db at frets 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

G string: G, A, Bb, C, Db, E, F, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12

B string: C, Db, E, F, G, A, Bb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

High E string: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12

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Bb 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:

B♭

i

B♭m
C

II

Cmaj
D♭

bIII+

D♭aug
E

#iv°

Edim
F

V

Fmaj
G

vi°

Gdim
A

vii

Am

Same notes, different mode

Bb 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.

F harmonic major

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

tip
  • Hold the minor 3rd (Db) against the raised 4th (E): the film-noir rub at the heart of Bb 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 Bb; recycle those fingerings.
  • Play it slowly: this scale rewards sustained tones and voice-leading more than runs.

How to play B♭ lydian diminished on guitar

Fret 1 on the A string puts a root right at the nut end, so first-position phrases can land home without a shift. Open A gives the major seventh and open G the major sixth, which means two upper degrees come without a finger. Lowest root is fret 6 on the low E. Capo at fret 1 renders it as A, with the first box ending at fret 10.

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