STRINGSCALES

F lydian diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, Ab, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12

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

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

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

B string: B, C, D, E, F, G, Ab, B at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12

High E string: E, F, G, Ab, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12

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F 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:

F

i

Fm
G

II

Gmaj
A♭

bIII+

A♭aug
B

#iv°

Bdim
C

V

Cmaj
D

vi°

Ddim
E

vii

Em

Same notes, different mode

F 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.

C harmonic major

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

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

How to play F lydian diminished on guitar

Every string except the A holds an open note of this key, so open-position strumming stays inside F even though none of those notes is the root. Roots land at fret 1 on both E strings, which puts the E-shape barre right at the nut end of the neck. Capo 1 makes it E. First box ends at fret 5, and vi° comes out as Ddim.

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