STRINGSCALES

G lydian diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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G 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:

G

i

Gm
A

II

Amaj
B♭

bIII+

B♭aug
C♯

#iv°

C♯dim
D

V

Dmaj
E

vi°

Edim
F♯

vii

F♯m

Same notes, different mode

G 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.

D harmonic major

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

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

How to play G lydian diminished on guitar

Open G is the tonic and open D the fifth, so a root-and-fifth drone sits under everything with nothing fretted. All but the B string ring inside the key, which means open-string fills stay usable even at speed. Lowest root is fret 3 on the low E, with the A-shape barre waiting up at fret 10. Box one closes at fret 7.

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