STRINGSCALES

C lydian diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F#, G, A, B, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

A string: A, B, C, D, Eb, F#, G, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12

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

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

B string: B, C, D, Eb, F#, G, A, B at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12

High E string: F#, G, A, B, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

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C 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:

C

i

Cm
D

II

Dmaj
E♭

bIII+

E♭aug
F♯

#iv°

F♯dim
G

V

Gmaj
A

vi°

Adim
B

vii

Bm

Same notes, different mode

C 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.

G harmonic major

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

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

How to play C lydian diminished on guitar

Four open strings hold notes of this key, open G among them as the fifth, so a pedal under C needs no capo. Root nearest the nut is fret 1 on the B string. Lowest root is fret 8 on the low E, so the E-shape barre and the first box share a starting point. Same grip played from G reads as harmonic major, which means one box earns two labels. Position one ends at fret 12.

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