STRINGSCALES

C lydian augmented Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

G string: G#, A, B, C, D, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

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

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

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C 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:

C

I+

Caug
D

II

Dmaj
E

III

Emaj
F♯

#iv°

F♯dim
G♯

#v°

G♯dim
A

vi

Am
B

vii

Bm

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

Same notes, different mode

C 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.

D lydian dominantE mixolydian b6F# locrian #2G# alteredA melodic minorB dorian b2

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

tip
  • Play it over maj7#5 chords: C lydian augmented is the only common scale containing both the #4 (F#) and #5 (G#) above a major 7th frame.
  • Suspend rather than resolve: hold #IV (F#) or #V (G#) over the chord and let the brightness hang.
  • Think melodic minor down a minor 3rd from C; the fingering transfers directly.
  • Use it for a two-chord lift: Cmaj7#5 moving to the plain maj7 a whole step down turns the scale into an arrival effect.

How to play C lydian augmented on guitar

Caug is the I+ chord, so the tonic triad itself is augmented and anything built off fret 8 on the low E inherits that. Five open strings land in the scale. Roots repeat at 3 on the A string and 1 on the B, none of them open. Same fingering 9 semitones up gives A melodic minor, which means one box serves both and position one still closes at fret 12.

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