STRINGSCALES

B lydian diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D, E#, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

G string: G#, A#, B, C#, D, E#, F# at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

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

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

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B 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

Bm
C♯

II

C♯maj
D

bIII+

Daug
E♯

#iv°

E♯dim
F♯

V

F♯maj
G♯

vi°

G♯dim
A♯

vii

A♯m

Same notes, different mode

B 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 (D) against the raised 4th (F): the film-noir rub at the heart of B 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 B; 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

Open B is a root and open D the minor third above it, so a two-string drone already spells part of the tonic chord. Roots climb from fret 0 on the B string through fret 4 on the G to fret 9 on the D. Capo 2 makes the grip an A shape, which lets you swap five sharps for open-position muscle memory. Lowest is fret 7.

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