D Lydian Minor
Piano scale diagramAdvanced
D Lydian Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Lydian Minor scale is a unique scale that blends Lydian brightness with a layer of minor-key melancholy. On Piano, the notes are D, E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C. It provides a sophisticated, bittersweet color that is perfect for modern film scores and emotive jazz solos. Commonly used in Film Scores, Jazz, Progressive. Notable players include Danny Elfman, Brad Mehldau. Use over m7#11 chords. A specialized color for emotive jazz and cinematic passages that need emotional complexity.
Notes: D, E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 #4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-W-W-H-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
Lydian brightness (#4) meets minor melancholy (b3, b7) — a sophisticated contradiction. Sounds like hope filtered through sadness.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Film Scores, Jazz, Progressive
Notable players: Danny Elfman, Brad Mehldau
How to Use the D Lydian Minor Scale
Use over m7#11 chords. A specialized color for emotive jazz and cinematic passages that need emotional complexity.
Origin & Background
A synthetic scale used in modern film scoring and jazz for bittersweet emotional coloring.
Related Scales
The D Lydian Minor scale contains 7 notes (D, E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C). Use the interactive piano diagram above to explore this scale on Piano.