STRINGSCALES

D♭ major augmented Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

A string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

D string: Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

G string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

High E string: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

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Db 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:

D♭

I+

D♭aug
E♭

ii

E♭m
F

III

Fmaj
G♭

IV

G♭maj
A

#v°

Adim
B♭

vi

B♭m
C

vii°

Cdim

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

Same notes, different mode

Db 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.

Eb dorian #4F phrygian dominantGb lydian #9A ultralocrianBb harmonic minorC locrian 6

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

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

How to play D♭ major augmented on guitar

A capo on fret 1 lets you play this out of C major augmented shapes, so anyone who knows that key can borrow the fingering whole. Only the open A string belongs to the scale. Roots gather at fret 9 on both E strings, fret 4 on the A, fret 2 on the B. Adim and Cdim both belong to this set, which means two diminished grips are in reach before you finish the rest.

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