A Lydian Augmented Guitar Scale

A Lydian Augmented Scale — Notes and Intervals

The A Lydian Augmented scale is a majestic and highly dissonant scale used over major-augmented chords. On Guitar, it contains the notes A, B, C#, D#, F, F#, G#. Its sharp fourth and fifth degrees create a powerful, otherworldly sound that is often used in epic cinematic scores and advanced jazz fusion. Commonly used in Film Scores, Jazz, Fusion, Progressive. Notable players include John Williams, Wayne Shorter, Joe Satriani. Use over Maj7#5, Maj7#11 chords. Perfect for epic, cinematic moments that need to feel larger than life.

Notes: A, B, C#, D#, F, F#, G#

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4A, 5A, 6M, 7M

Degrees: 1 2 3 #4 #5 6 7

Formula: W-W-W-W-H-W-H

Number of notes: 7

Musical Character

The #4 and #5 together create a sound of immense power and alien grandeur — like Lydian but pushed even further into the unknown.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Film Scores, Jazz, Fusion, Progressive

Notable players: John Williams, Wayne Shorter, Joe Satriani

How to Use the A Lydian Augmented Scale

Use over Maj7#5, Maj7#11 chords. Perfect for epic, cinematic moments that need to feel larger than life.

Origin & Background

The third mode of the melodic minor scale. Used in film scoring for moments of cosmic grandeur.

How to Play A Lydian Augmented on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 5 on the 6th (low E) to find your A root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position using open A string.

The A Lydian Augmented scale contains 4 sharps (C#, D#, F#, G#). Its relative minor is F# minor, which shares the same notes.

Practice Routine

Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the A Lydian Augmented scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.

Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Lydian Augmented scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in film scores contexts.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, practice the A Lydian Augmented scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications. Aim for a majestic quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

Lydian Augmented is the 3rd mode of the Melodic Minor scale. View A Melodic minor scale

• A Lydian
• A Augmented
• A Lydian #5p pentatonic

The A Lydian Augmented scale contains 7 notes (A, B, C#, D#, F, F#, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Lydian Augmented

The A Lydian Augmented scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore A Lydian Augmented Further

• Harmonize the A Lydian Augmented scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• A Lydian Augmented on Ukulele
• A Lydian Augmented on Bass
• A Lydian Augmented on Piano

Explore A Lydian Augmented in Other Tunings

• A Lydian Augmented in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• A Lydian Augmented in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• A Lydian Augmented in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• A Lydian Augmented in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• A Lydian Augmented in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• A Lydian Augmented in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• A Lydian Augmented in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• A Lydian Augmented in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• A Lydian Augmented in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• A Lydian Augmented in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• A Lydian Augmented in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• A Lydian Augmented in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• A Lydian Augmented in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• A Lydian Augmented in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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