STRINGSCALES

A lydian #9 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G#, A, B#, C#, D#, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

A string: A, B#, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

D string: D#, E, F#, G#, A, B#, C# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

G string: G#, A, B#, C#, D#, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

B string: B#, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10

High E string: E, F#, G#, A, B#, C#, D#, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

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A lydian #9

The lydian #9 scale, the sixth mode of the harmonic minor scale, is lydian with its 2nd raised to a sharp 9: an augmented 2nd right at the start, then pure brightness. The strange leap into a serene lydian upper structure gives it a ceremonial, almost liturgical character. A rare color, best over maj7#11 chords that can absorb the #9.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

Amaj
B♯

#ii°

B♯dim
C♯

iii

C♯m
D♯

#iv°

D♯dim
E

V+

Eaug
F♯

vi

F♯m
G♯

VII

G♯maj

Characteristic note: C (#2), the raised second stacked on top of lydian brightness.

Same notes, different mode

A lydian #9 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# harmonic minorD# locrian 6E major augmentedF# dorian #4G# phrygian dominant

lydian #9 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • The opening leap root to #2 (C) sets the ceremony; from III upward it is pure lydian, so phrase in two panels: exotic low, serene high.
  • Use it over maj7#11 chords that can absorb a #9; sustain VII and #IV (D#) while the #2 (C) appears only as an ornament.
  • As harmonic minor's sixth mode, it shares all its notes with the harmonic minor a major 3rd above A.
  • Try harping the open intervals: root, #IV (D#), VII as a stacked voicing outlines the scale without a single run.

How to play A lydian #9 on guitar

Open A is the tonic and both E strings sit a perfect fifth above, so three open strings give you root and fifth across the whole range. Eaug covers V+, so those open E strings root the augmented triad too. Fretted roots return at 5 on the E strings, 7 on the D and 2 on the G. Fret 10 on the B string sits highest. Position one closes at fret 9, so the 5th-fret box does the heavy lifting.

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