D Lydian Augmented Guitar Scale
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What chords fit over D Lydian Augmented?
Open D Lydian Augmented HarmonizerD Lydian Augmented Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Lydian Augmented scale is a majestic and highly dissonant scale used over major-augmented chords. On Guitar, it contains the notes D, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#. 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: D, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#
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 D 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 D Lydian Augmented on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 10 on the 6th (low E) to find your D 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 D string.
The D Lydian Augmented scale contains 4 sharps (F#, G#, A#, C#). Its relative minor is B minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the D Lydian Augmented scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (D-F#, E-G#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on D to let the characteristic intervals of the Lydian Augmented scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in jazz contexts.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the D Lydian Augmented scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently. 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 D Melodic minor scale
The D Lydian Augmented scale contains 7 notes (D, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Lydian Augmented
The D 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 D Lydian Augmented Further
- Harmonize the D Lydian Augmented scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Lydian Augmented on Ukulele
- D Lydian Augmented on Bass
- D Lydian Augmented on Piano
Explore D Lydian Augmented in Other Tunings
- D Lydian Augmented in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Lydian Augmented in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Lydian Augmented in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Lydian Augmented in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Lydian Augmented in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Lydian Augmented in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Lydian Augmented in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Lydian Augmented in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Lydian Augmented in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Lydian Augmented in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Lydian Augmented in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Lydian Augmented in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Lydian Augmented in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Lydian Augmented in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)