STRINGSCALES

B♭ lydian augmented Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D, E, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

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

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

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Bb 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:

B♭

I+

B♭aug
C

II

Cmaj
D

III

Dmaj
E

#iv°

Edim
F♯

#v°

F♯dim
G

vi

Gm
A

vii

Am

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

Same notes, different mode

Bb 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.

C lydian dominantD mixolydian b6E locrian #2F# alteredG melodic minorA dorian b2

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

tip
  • Play it over maj7#5 chords: Bb lydian augmented is the only common scale containing both the #4 (E) and #5 (F#) above a major 7th frame.
  • Suspend rather than resolve: hold #IV (E) or #V (F#) over the chord and let the brightness hang.
  • Think melodic minor down a minor 3rd from Bb; the fingering transfers directly.
  • Use it for a two-chord lift: Bbmaj7#5 moving to the plain maj7 a whole step down turns the scale into an arrival effect.

How to play B♭ lydian augmented on guitar

A-shape barre sits at fret 1, so the lowest root on the A string is one fret from the nut and needs no stretch. Five open strings remain inside this key, both E strings landing on the augmented fourth. Bbaug is the I+ chord. Roots also sit at 6 on the E strings, 8 on the D and 3 on the G, which means position one covers a wide span before it ends at fret 10. Capo fret 1 for A lydian augmented, so open shapes apply.

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