STRINGSCALES

B♭ lydian minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: Bb, C, D, E, F, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

D string: D, E, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F, Gb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

B string: C, D, E, F, Gb, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

High E string: E, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

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Bb lydian minor

The lydian minor scale pairs a bright lydian bottom (natural 2nd and 3rd, raised 4th) with a minor top (flat 6th and 7th). The same collection appears as the fourth mode of the neapolitan major catalogue under the name lydian dominant b6. It is a bittersweet dominant color: shimmering below, sinking above, at home in film scoring.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I

B♭maj
C

II

Cmaj♭5
D

iii°

Ddim
E

#IV

G♭7no5/E
F

v

Fm
G♭

bVI+

G♭aug
A♭

bVII+

A♭aug

Same notes, different mode

Bb lydian minor 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.

Bb lydian dominant b6C major locrianD half-diminished b4E altered dominant double b3F neapolitan majorGb leading whole toneAb lydian augmented dominant

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

tip
  • Bright bottom, minor top: rise through the lydian half (II, III, #IV (E)), then let b6 (Gb) and b7 (Ab) sink the landing.
  • Over a dominant chord heading to minor, it promises the darkness early; III and b7 (Ab) are the guide tones.
  • The same notes are catalogued as lydian dominant b6 (Gb), the fourth mode of neapolitan major; both names, one sound.
  • Film-score trick: hold a plain major triad on Bb and melodize with this scale; the b6 (Gb) against the chord's 5th is instant unease.

How to play B♭ lydian minor on guitar

Both E strings sound the augmented fourth over Bb, giving you the tritone on two open strings at once. Open D adds the major third, and it is the only other open string in the key. Roots start at fret 1 on the A string, meaning the A-shape barre sits one fret up from the nut. Lowest root is fret 6 on the low E.

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