STRINGSCALES

B♭ major augmented Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

A string: A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, G, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12

D string: D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

B string: C, D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

High E string: F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

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Bb 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:

B♭

I+

B♭aug
C

ii

Cm
D

III

Dmaj
E♭

IV

E♭maj
F♯

#v°

F♯dim
G

vi

Gm
A

vii°

Adim

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

Same notes, different mode

Bb 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.

C dorian #4D phrygian dominantEb lydian #9F# ultralocrianG harmonic minorA locrian 6

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

tip
  • Play Bb major and raise only the 5th (F#): 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 (F#) 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 Bb: the augmented I chord against the minor iii creates the scale's signature lift.

How to play B♭ major augmented on guitar

A, D and G ring in the key, while both E strings and the B stay out of it. Roots wait at fret 6 on both E strings, fret 1 on the A, so a barre at either point anchors a full position. That same fret 1 under a capo opens the A major augmented shapes, which means the flat key can be worked through a sharper one. Cm and Gm are the two minors.

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