About the D flat Lydian Diminished scale
D 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 D♭ Lydian with the third lowered.
Its notes are D♭, E♭, F♭, G, A♭, B♭, and C. The formula is W H 1½ H W W H. It is the fourth mode of A♭ Harmonic Major.
Also called Lydian ♭3 and Lydian Minor.
D♭ Lydian Diminished uses four black keys on the piano, D♭, E♭, A♭, and B♭. Notably, the raised fourth falls on the white key G.
Chords in the key of D flat Lydian Diminished
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i D flat minor
D flat minor over F flat (1st inversion)
II E flat
E flat over G (1st inversion)
III+ F flat augmented
F flat augmented over A flat (1st inversion)
iv° G diminished
G diminished over B flat (1st inversion)
V A flat
A flat over C (1st inversion)
vi° B flat diminished
B flat diminished over D flat (1st inversion)
vii C minor
C minor over E flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in D flat Lydian Diminished
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i D flat minor major seven
D flat minor major seven
II E flat seven
E flat seven
III+ F flat major seven sharp five
F flat major seven sharp five
iv° G diminished seven
G diminished seven
V A flat major seven
A flat major seven
vi° B flat minor seven flat five
B flat minor seven flat five
vii C minor seven
C minor seven
Progressions in D flat Lydian Diminished
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | DbD♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | EbE♭ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | FbF♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | GG | Augmented 4th |
| 5 | AbA♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | BbB♭ | Major 6th |
| 7 | CC | 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 | D flat | E flat | F flat | G | A flat | B flat | C | D flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 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.