STRINGSCALES

A♭ lydian augmented Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: Bb, C, D, E, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

D string: D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

B string: C, D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

High E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

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Ab lydian augmented

The lydian augmented scale, the third mode of the melodic minor scale, raises both the 4th and 5th of a major scale. It outlines a maj7#5 chord with a #11, about the brightest and least grounded color mainstream jazz harmony uses. Reach for it when a major 7th chord should shimmer instead of rest.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I+

A♭aug
B♭

II

B♭maj
C

III

Cmaj
D

#iv°

Ddim
E

#v°

Edim
F

vi

Fm
G

vii

Gm

Characteristic notes: D (#4) and E (#5), the raised fourth and fifth floating over a melodic minor base.

Same notes, different mode

Ab lydian augmented uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

Bb lydian dominantC mixolydian b6D locrian #2E alteredF melodic minorG dorian b2

lydian augmented in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play it over maj7#5 chords: Ab lydian augmented is the only common scale containing both the #4 (D) and #5 (E) above a major 7th frame.
  • Suspend rather than resolve: hold #IV (D) or #V (E) over the chord and let the brightness hang.
  • Think melodic minor down a minor 3rd from Ab; the fingering transfers directly.
  • Use it for a two-chord lift: Abmaj7#5 moving to the plain maj7 a whole step down turns the scale into an arrival effect.

How to play A♭ lydian augmented on guitar

Both E strings ring as an augmented fifth over this tonic and the D string as an augmented fourth, so the open strings hand you the two altered degrees for free. Roots sit at fret 4 on the E strings and at 1 on the G string, which lets you play the whole shape without leaving the first four frets. Abaug is the I+ chord. Same fingering 8 semitones up gives E altered. Capo fret 1 turns it into G lydian augmented, so the accidentals thin out.

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