A Lydian Augmented Scale on Guitar — 2 Shapes to Play the Whole Neck
A Lydian Augmented is a mode of the melodic minor (jazz minor) scale, a favorite in jazz and fusion improvisation — its notes are A B C# D# E# F# G#, from the formula 1 2 3 #4 #5 6 7. This exact root/scale pairing computes to 2 repeating shapes on the neck.
A Lydian Augmented Scale Notes
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 1 |
| 2 | B | 2 |
| 3 | C# | 3 |
| 4 | D# | #4 |
| 5 | E# | #5 |
| 6 | F# | 6 |
| 7 | G# | 7 |
A Lydian Augmented Formula
Degree formula: 1 2 3 #4 #5 6 7
Whole – Whole – Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Half
A Lydian Augmented on the Guitar Fretboard
The notes of Lydian Augmented repeat across the guitar fretboard in connected positions. Use the shape below to identify root notes, scale degrees, and neighboring shapes.
- Frets 1–11 (span 10 frets)
- Lowest note E#, highest note D#
- 3 A root notes, on the E string (fret 5), D string (fret 7), B string (fret 10)
How to practice this shape
- Start on the root — A at fret 5 on the E string. Play up to the highest note in the shape, then back down, staying inside frets 1–11.
- Your hand shifts 5 times as you cross strings: E→A (+1), A→D (+1), D→G (+1), G→B (+2), B→E (+1). Those crossings — not the notes — are what this position is really asking you to learn.
- Once it feels automatic, move on to the next of the 2 shapes — together they cover the whole neck, and the same pattern repeats from there.
Diatonic chords
These are the 7 chords built from A Lydian Augmented's own notes — the ones that will sound like they belong when you're writing a progression, backing a melody, or jamming in this key. The Roman numeral shows each chord's role in the key: capital for major, lowercase for minor, ° for diminished, + for augmented. Not every scale produces a clean chord on every degree — where that happens, we show it honestly instead of forcing a name that doesn't fit.
A Lydian Augmented Scale Relationships
- Parent scale: F# Melodic Minor (Jazz, Ascending)
A Lydian Augmented FAQ
A Lydian Augmented contains the notes A, B, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#.
A Lydian Augmented is a mode of F# Melodic Minor (Jazz, Ascending).
A Lydian Augmented has a natural (major) 3rd degree, giving it a major character. It's derived from F# Melodic Minor (Jazz, Ascending).
The diatonic chords in A Lydian Augmented are Aaug, B, C#, D#dim, E#dim, F#m, G#m.