A# Lydian Diminished Mandolin Scale

Mandolin scale — fretboard diagram

A# lydian diminished scale — 4-string guitar fretboard diagramInteractive fretboard diagram showing the A# lydian diminished scale on 4-string guitar with 20 frets. Notes: E, F, G, A, A#, C, C#.EFGAA#CC#EFGAA#CAA#CC#EFGAA#CC#EFEFGAA#CC#EFGAA#GAA#CC#EFGAA#CC#13579111213151719

A# Lydian Diminished Scale — Notes and Intervals

The A# Lydian Diminished scale is a synthetic scale that blends the ethereal brightness of Lydian with the tension of a minor third. On Mandolin, it contains the notes A#, C, C#, E, F, G, A. It is used to create a mysterious, neo-classical atmosphere that feels both ancient and modern at the same time. Commonly used in Film Scores, Neo-Classical, Fusion. Notable players include Danny Elfman, Bela Bartok. Use over m(Maj7), mMaj7#11 chords. A specialized color for neo-classical and cinematic passages.

Notes: A#, C, C#, E, F, G, A

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4A, 5P, 6M, 7M

Degrees: 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 7

Formula: W-H-WH-H-W-W-H

Number of notes: 7

How to Play A# Lydian Diminished on Mandolin

Begin by locating A# on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Lydian Diminished scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.

The A# Lydian Diminished scale contains 2 sharps (A#, C#). Its relative minor is G minor, which shares the same notes.

Practice Routine

Begin by playing the A# Lydian Diminished scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A#-C#, C-E) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.

Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A# to let the characteristic intervals of the Lydian Diminished scale come through clearly.

Mandolin Tips

Practice the A# Lydian Diminished scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed.

The A# Lydian Diminished scale contains 7 notes (A#, C, C#, E, F, G, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for A# Lydian Diminished

The A# Lydian Diminished scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore A# Lydian Diminished Further

Explore A# Lydian Diminished in Other Tunings

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