STRINGSCALES

E ionian major #2 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F##, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

A string: A, B, C#, D#, E, F##, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

D string: D#, E, F##, G#, A, B, C# at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

G string: F##, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E, F## at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

B string: B, C#, D#, E, F##, G#, A, B at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E, F##, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

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E ionian major #2

The ionian #2 scale, the sixth mode of the neapolitan minor scale, is a major scale whose 2nd is raised to a sharp 2nd, creating an augmented 2nd leap right at the start. The rest is textbook major, so melodies keep snapping between exotic and plain. It is a striking way to make a familiar major progression sound foreign.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

E

I

Emaj
F𝄪

#II

A7no5/F𝄪
G♯

iii

G♯m
A

IV

Amaj
B

V+

Baug
C♯

vi

C♯m
D♯

VII

D#maj♭5

Same notes, different mode

E ionian major #2 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.

G ultralocrianG# neapolitan minorA lydian #6B mixolydian augmentedC# romani minorD# locrian dominant

ionian major #2 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play E major but leap from the root straight to #2 (G) and settle on the 3rd; one displaced note makes familiar lines sound foreign.
  • Use the #2 (G) as a chromatic ornament to the 3rd (G#) in an otherwise textbook major solo; ration it and it stays striking.
  • It is the sixth mode of neapolitan minor, sharing its notes with the neapolitan minor a major 3rd below E.
  • Over a plain major triad, alternate phrases from E major and E ionian #2 (G) to make one chord feel like two worlds.

How to play E ionian major #2 on guitar

Both E strings are open roots, giving you a tonic pedal above and below whatever you fret. Open A and B belong here as well, which means the first box sits at the nut and the next takes over at fret 4. A7no5/F## is the #II chord, and the A string picks up a root at fret 7. E shape barre lands at fret 12.

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