STRINGSCALES

A♭ major augmented Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

A string: Bb, C, Db, E, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

D string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12

B string: C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

High E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

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Ab major augmented

The major augmented scale, also called ionian #5, is a major scale with a raised 5th: the third mode of the harmonic minor scale. One alteration turns the tonic triad augmented while every other degree stays diatonic, so familiar melodies acquire a lifted, unresolved center. It is the cleanest scale choice over maj7#5 chords.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I+

A♭aug
B♭

ii

B♭m
C

III

Cmaj
D♭

IV

D♭maj
E

#v°

Edim
F

vi

Fm
G

vii°

Gdim

Characteristic note: E (#5), the raised fifth that gives everything an augmented shimmer.

Same notes, different mode

Ab major 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 dorian #4C phrygian dominantDb lydian #9E ultralocrianF harmonic minorG locrian 6

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

tip
  • Play Ab major and raise only the 5th (E): the tonic triad turns augmented while every melody note stays familiar.
  • Use it over maj7#5 chords; as harmonic minor's third mode it shares fingerings with the harmonic minor a major 3rd above... borrow them.
  • Resolve #V (E) upward to VI or down to V mid-phrase; parking on it keeps the suspense, moving it tells a story.
  • Try a I to iii change in Ab: the augmented I chord against the minor iii creates the scale's signature lift.

How to play A♭ major augmented on guitar

Both E strings and the open G belong to the key, E as an augmented fifth and G as a major seventh. A capo on fret 1 rewrites the whole thing as G major augmented shapes, so the sharp key can serve as a practice stand-in. Roots begin at fret 4, low E. Fm and Bbm are the minor pair, which means two familiar barre shapes already fit the set.

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