Chord Colors

B Lydian Diminished scale

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
Position 2 of 3

B minor over D (1st inversion)

II C sharp
Position 2 of 3

C sharp over E sharp (1st inversion)

III+ D augmented
Position 2 of 3

D augmented over F sharp (1st inversion)

iv° E sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)

V F sharp
Position 2 of 3

F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)

vi° G sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

G sharp diminished over B (1st inversion)

vii A sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

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

1BBRoot
2C#C♯Major 2nd
3DDMinor 3rd
4E#E♯Augmented 4th
5F#F♯Perfect 5th
6G#G♯Major 6th
7A#A♯Major 7th
StepsW H 1½ H W W H
Semitones2-1-3-1-2-2-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules

Hand BC sharpDE sharpF sharpG sharpA sharpB
Right hand12312345
Left hand43214321

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Lydian Diminished in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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B Lydian Diminished scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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