Scale
D♯ lydian augmented
Melodic minor modes
- Formula
- 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7
- Notes
- D♯ E♯ F♯♯ G♯♯ A♯♯ B♯ C♯♯
Notation
Fretboard — frets 0–24
Degrees
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♯ | perfect unison | 0 | The root — the tonal centre every other note is heard against; land on it and the sound resolves. |
| 2 | E♯ | 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 | F♯♯ | 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 | G♯♯ | augmented fourth | 6 | The augmented fourth — the tritone; lydian, lydian dominant and maj7♯11 use it to lift the sound off the ground. |
| ♯5 | A♯♯ | 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 | B♯ | 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 | C♯♯ | 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
Lydian augmented is the third degree of melodic minor: a major scale with both a raised fourth and a raised fifth. The sharp fourth lifts the scale while the sharp fifth turns the tonic chord into an augmented major seventh, so the sound is luminous and unsteady at the same time. It is the scale of the maj7♯5 chord and a favourite in modern jazz, fusion and film scoring, where it suggests wonder with a shadow underneath. The augmented triad at its centre is symmetrical, which keeps the scale floating. Listen for the sharp fifth at the top and the sharp fourth passing through the middle.
How to practise this scale
- Play the sharp fourth and sharp fifth together and hear the lift.
- Compare it with lydian and hear what raising the fifth adds.
- Improvise over a maj7♯5 chord and aim for the raised fifth.
- Play the augmented triad inside the scale and hear its symmetry.