Scale
B ionian ♯5
Harmonic minor modes
- Formula
- 1 2 3 4 ♯5 6 7
- Notes
- B C♯ D♯ E F♯♯ G♯ A♯
Notation
Fretboard — frets 0–24
Degrees
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | perfect unison | 0 | The root — the tonal centre every other note is heard against; land on it and the sound resolves. |
| 2 | C♯ | major second | 2 | The major second — a bright neighbour a whole step above the root; in sus2 it replaces the third, so the chord commits to neither major nor minor. |
| 3 | D♯ | major third | 4 | The major third — the bright note that makes a quality major; it defines the chord's colour and pulls gently toward the root. |
| 4 | E | perfect fourth | 5 | The perfect fourth — stable yet suspended; in sus4 it takes the third's place and leaves the chord hanging. |
| ♯5 | F♯♯ | augmented fifth | 8 | The augmented fifth — a raised fifth that makes the triad float; aug and the lydian augmented family sound unresolved on purpose. |
| 6 | G♯ | major sixth | 9 | The major sixth — the hopeful note that separates dorian and m6 from their darker cousins; it sits a whole step above the fifth. |
| 7 | A♯ | major seventh | 11 | The major seventh — the leading tone a half-step under the root; in maj7 it glows, in harmonic minor it sharpens the pull home. |
About this scale
Ionian sharp five is the third degree of harmonic minor: a major scale with a raised fifth, which turns the tonic triad into an augmented chord. The sharp fifth gives the scale a bright but unsettled glow — major in colour, unstable in structure — and the raised seventh keeps the leading tone intact. It is the scale of the maj7♯5 chord and appears in classical harmony, film music and jazz whenever an augmented major sound is needed. Because the fifth is altered, the scale's symmetry is broken just enough to keep it directional. Listen for the sharp fifth and the major seventh together at the top.
How to practise this scale
- Play the sharp fifth and hold it against the major third.
- Resolve the augmented triad to a stable chord and hear the release.
- Compare it with ionian and isolate the raised fifth.
- Improvise over a maj7♯5 chord and land on the sharp fifth.