About the B flat Lydian Diminished scale
B flat 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.
Two of the notes in B♭ Lydian Diminished are black keys, B♭ and D♭. That raised fourth spells out to the white key E. This scale runs four white keys in a row on the piano.
Chords in the key of B flat Lydian Diminished
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i B flat minor
B flat minor over D flat (1st inversion)
II C
C over E (1st inversion)
III+ D flat augmented
D flat augmented over F (1st inversion)
iv° E diminished
E diminished over G (1st inversion)
V F
F over A (1st inversion)
vi° G diminished
G diminished over B flat (1st inversion)
vii A minor
A minor over C (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B flat Lydian Diminished
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i B flat minor major seven
B flat minor major seven
II C seven
C seven
III+ D flat major seven sharp five
D flat major seven sharp five
iv° E diminished seven
E diminished seven
V F major seven
F major seven
vi° G minor seven flat five
G minor seven flat five
vii A minor seven
A minor seven
Progressions in B flat Lydian Diminished
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BbB♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | CC | Major 2nd |
| 3 | DbD♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | EE | Augmented 4th |
| 5 | FF | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | GG | Major 6th |
| 7 | AA | 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 flat | C | D flat | E | F | G | A | B flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Lydian Diminished in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.