Chord Colors

G♯ Lydian Diminished scale

About the G sharp Lydian Diminished scale

G sharp 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 G Lydian with the third lowered.

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

Also called Lydian 3 and Lydian Minor.

G Lydian Diminished uses three black keys on the piano, G, A, and D. Notably, the raised fourth falls on the white key C♯♯.

Chords in the key of G sharp Lydian Diminished

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

i G sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

G sharp minor over B (1st inversion)

II A sharp
Position 2 of 3

A sharp over C double sharp (1st inversion)

III+ B augmented
Position 2 of 3

B augmented over D sharp (1st inversion)

iv° C double sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

C double sharp diminished over E sharp (1st inversion)

V D sharp
Position 2 of 3

D sharp over F double sharp (1st inversion)

vi° E sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)

vii F double sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

F double sharp minor over A sharp (1st inversion)

Seventh chords in G sharp Lydian Diminished

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

i G sharp minor major seven

G sharp minor major seven

II A sharp seven

A sharp seven

III+ B major seven sharp five

B major seven sharp five

iv° C double sharp diminished seven

C double sharp diminished seven

V D sharp major seven

D sharp major seven

vi° E sharp minor seven flat five

E sharp minor seven flat five

vii F double sharp minor seven

F double sharp minor seven

Progressions in G sharp Lydian Diminished

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

Notes and intervals

1G#G♯Root
2A#A♯Major 2nd
3BBMinor 3rd
4C##C♯♯Augmented 4th
5D#D♯Perfect 5th
6E#E♯Major 6th
7F##F♯♯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 G sharpA sharpBC double sharpD sharpE sharpF double sharpG sharp
Right hand34123123
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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Ab Lydian Diminished scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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