Chord Colors

C Lydian Diminished scale

About the C Lydian Diminished scale

C 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 C Lydian with the third lowered.

Its notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The formula is W H 1½ H W W H. It is the fourth mode of G Harmonic Major.

Also called Lydian 3 and Lydian Minor.

Two of the notes in C Lydian Diminished are black keys, E and F.

Chords in the key of C Lydian Diminished

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

i C minor
Position 2 of 3

C minor over E flat (1st inversion)

II D
Position 2 of 3

D over F sharp (1st inversion)

III+ E flat augmented
Position 2 of 3

E flat augmented over G (1st inversion)

iv° F sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

F sharp diminished over A (1st inversion)

V G
Position 2 of 3

G over B (1st inversion)

vi° A diminished
Position 2 of 3

A diminished over C (1st inversion)

vii B minor
Position 2 of 3

B minor over D (1st inversion)

Seventh chords in C Lydian Diminished

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

i C minor major seven

C minor major seven

II D seven

D seven

III+ E flat major seven sharp five

E flat major seven sharp five

iv° F sharp diminished seven

F sharp diminished seven

V G major seven

G major seven

vi° A minor seven flat five

A minor seven flat five

vii B minor seven

B minor seven

Progressions in C Lydian Diminished

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1CCRoot
2DDMajor 2nd
3EbE♭Minor 3rd
4F#F♯Augmented 4th
5GGPerfect 5th
6AAMajor 6th
7BBMajor 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 CDE flatF sharpGABC
Right hand12341234
Left hand54321321

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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C Lydian Diminished scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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