Chord Colors

B♭ Lydian Diminished scale

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
Position 2 of 3

B flat minor over D flat (1st inversion)

II C
Position 2 of 3

C over E (1st inversion)

III+ D flat augmented
Position 2 of 3

D flat augmented over F (1st inversion)

iv° E diminished
Position 2 of 3

E diminished over G (1st inversion)

V F
Position 2 of 3

F over A (1st inversion)

vi° G diminished
Position 2 of 3

G diminished over B flat (1st inversion)

vii A minor
Position 2 of 3

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

1BbB♭Root
2CCMajor 2nd
3DbD♭Minor 3rd
4EEAugmented 4th
5FFPerfect 5th
6GGMajor 6th
7AAMajor 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 B flatCD flatEFGAB flat
Right hand41231234
Left hand43213214

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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Bb Lydian Diminished scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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