B Lydian Minor Tres Cubano Scale
Tres Cubano scale — fretboard diagram
B Lydian Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Lydian Minor scale is a unique scale that blends Lydian brightness with a layer of minor-key melancholy. On Tres Cubano, the notes are B, C#, D#, F, F#, G, A. 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: B, C#, D#, F, F#, G, A
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
How to Play B Lydian Minor on Tres Cubano
Begin by locating B on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Lydian Minor scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The B Lydian Minor scale contains 3 sharps (C#, D#, F#). Its relative major is D# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the B Lydian Minor scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on B to let the characteristic intervals of the Lydian Minor scale come through clearly.
Tres Cubano Tips
Practice the B Lydian Minor scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed.
The B Lydian Minor scale contains 7 notes (B, C#, D#, F, F#, G, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Tres Cubano with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Lydian Minor
The B Lydian Minor 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.