Skip to content
MusicTheoryGym

Scale · 7 notes

A Lydian Augmented Scale

A Lydian Augmented is a 7-note scale with the notes A B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯. It sounds the third mode of melodic minor: Lydian with a raised 5th, shimmering and unresolved, used over maj7♯5 chords.

E♯ABC♯D♯F♯G♯

Purple = A (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every A lydian augmented note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABD♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯E♯F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯

Blue = A (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the A Lydian Augmented scale

DegreeNoteName
1ATonic
2BSupertonic
3C♯Mediant
♯4D♯Subdominant
♯5E♯Dominant
6F♯Submediant
7G♯Leading tone

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯.

A Lydian Augmented scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – W – W – W – H – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7.

Chords in the A Lydian Augmented scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
I+A+A7♯5
IIBB7
IIIC♯C♯7
iv°D♯°D♯ø7
v°E♯°E♯ø7
viF♯mF♯m(maj7)
viiG♯mG♯m7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the A Lydian Augmented scale

Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the A Lydian Augmented scale?

The notes of the A Lydian Augmented scale are A B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯.

What is the formula for the A Lydian Augmented scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is W – W – W – W – H – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7.

What chords are in the A Lydian Augmented scale?

Built from the scale in triads: A+, B, C♯, D♯°, E♯°, F♯m, G♯m.

More A scales

A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.