About the B Lydian Diminished scale
B Lydian Diminished is used for jazz solos and film cues that want tension. Think of it as a Lydian scale with a minor third, another raised-fourth minor color. It is B Lydian with the third lowered.
Its notes are B, C♯, D, E♯, F♯, G♯, and A♯. The formula is W H 1½ H W W H. It is the fourth mode of F♯ Harmonic Major.
Also called Lydian ♭3 and Lydian Minor.
On the piano, the key touches the black keys C♯, F♯, G♯, and A♯.
Chords in the key of B Lydian Diminished
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i B minor
B minor over D (1st inversion)
II C sharp
C sharp over E sharp (1st inversion)
III+ D augmented
D augmented over F sharp (1st inversion)
iv° E sharp diminished
E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)
V F sharp
F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)
vi° G sharp diminished
G sharp diminished over B (1st inversion)
vii A sharp minor
A sharp minor over C sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B Lydian Diminished
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i B minor major seven
B minor major seven
II C sharp seven
C sharp seven
III+ D major seven sharp five
D major seven sharp five
iv° E sharp diminished seven
E sharp diminished seven
V F sharp major seven
F sharp major seven
vi° G sharp minor seven flat five
G sharp minor seven flat five
vii A sharp minor seven
A sharp minor seven
Progressions in B Lydian Diminished
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BB | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | C#C♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | DD | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | E#E♯ | Augmented 4th |
| 5 | F#F♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | G#G♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | A#A♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W H 1½ H W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-3-1-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 6 7 |
Fingering
Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules
| Hand | B | C sharp | D | E sharp | F sharp | G sharp | A sharp | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Lydian Diminished in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.