STRINGSCALES

D lydian diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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D 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:

D

i

Dm
E

II

Emaj
F

bIII+

Faug
G♯

#iv°

G♯dim
A

V

Amaj
B

vi°

Bdim
C♯

vii

C♯m

Same notes, different mode

D 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.

A harmonic major

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

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

How to play D lydian diminished on guitar

Five open strings belong to D, including the open D itself as the root and the open A as the fifth, so the guitar is already half-tuned to this key. Only the G string sits outside, which means you can crash into open chords without leaving the note set. Chord #iv° lands as G#dim. Roots stack from fret 0 on the D string up to fret 10 on the low E, and the first box gives out at fret 14.

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