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
G sharp minor over B (1st inversion)
II A sharp
A sharp over C double sharp (1st inversion)
III+ B augmented
B augmented over D sharp (1st inversion)
iv° C double sharp diminished
C double sharp diminished over E sharp (1st inversion)
V D sharp
D sharp over F double sharp (1st inversion)
vi° E sharp diminished
E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)
vii F double sharp minor
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
| 1 | G#G♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | A#A♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | BB | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C##C♯♯ | Augmented 4th |
| 5 | D#D♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | E#E♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | F##F♯♯ | 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 | G sharp | A sharp | B | C double sharp | D sharp | E sharp | F double sharp | G sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 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.