STRINGSCALES

A ionian major #2 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G#, A, B#, C#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12

A string: A, B#, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, E, F#, G#, A, B#, C#, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

G string: G#, A, B#, C#, D, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

B string: B#, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10

High E string: E, F#, G#, A, B#, C#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12

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A ionian major #2

The ionian #2 scale, the sixth mode of the neapolitan minor scale, is a major scale whose 2nd is raised to a sharp 2nd, creating an augmented 2nd leap right at the start. The rest is textbook major, so melodies keep snapping between exotic and plain. It is a striking way to make a familiar major progression sound foreign.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

Amaj
B♯

#II

D7no5/B♯
C♯

iii

C♯m
D

IV

Dmaj
E

V+

Eaug
F♯

vi

F♯m
G♯

VII

G#maj♭5

Same notes, different mode

A ionian major #2 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.

B# ultralocrianC# neapolitan minorD lydian #6E mixolydian augmentedF# romani minorG# locrian dominant

ionian major #2 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play A major but leap from the root straight to #2 (C) and settle on the 3rd; one displaced note makes familiar lines sound foreign.
  • Use the #2 (C) as a chromatic ornament to the 3rd (C#) in an otherwise textbook major solo; ration it and it stays striking.
  • It is the sixth mode of neapolitan minor, sharing its notes with the neapolitan minor a major 3rd below A.
  • Over a plain major triad, alternate phrases from A major and A ionian #2 (C) to make one chord feel like two worlds.

How to play A ionian major #2 on guitar

Open A is a root, and the low E root at fret 5 sounds the identical pitch, meaning the open string and the barre anchor are one note. Both E strings sit as the fifth and the open D as the fourth, which lets you hold an open pedal under the fret 5 box. Eaug is the V+ chord, with another root at fret 2 on the G string. A shape barre climbs to fret 12.

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