A Ionian Augmented Scale on Guitar: Notes

How it is built

A1B2C♯3D4E♯♯5F♯6G♯7

Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

A1A Augmented A Augmented Major 7th
B2B Minor B 5th B Suspended 2nd B Minor 7th B Minor 7th Flat 5th B Minor 6th B Minor 9th B Minor Add 9 B Diminished B Diminished 7th
C♯3C♯ Major C♯ 5th C♯ Suspended 4th C♯ 7th C♯ 7th Sharp 5 C♯ 7th Suspended 4th C♯ Augmented
D4D Major D Minor D 5th D Major 7th D Minor Major 7th D 6th D Minor 6th D Diminished D Diminished 7th D Diminished Major 7th
E♯♯5F Diminished F Diminished 7th F Augmented
F♯6F♯ Minor F♯ 5th F♯ Suspended 2nd F♯ Suspended 4th F♯ Minor Major 7th F♯ Minor Major 9th F♯ Minor Add 9
G♯7A♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th A♭ Diminished A♭ Diminished 7th

How do you play the A ionian augmented scale on guitar?

A ionian augmented in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 15 notes across 6 strings, from E♯ on the low E string at fret 1 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the G string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	1, 2, 4	E♯, F♯, G♯
5 (A)	2, 4	B, C♯
4 (D)	3, 4	E♯, F♯
3 (G)	1, 2, 4	G♯, A, B
2 (B)	2, 3	C♯, D
1 (e)	1, 2, 4	E♯, F♯, G♯

Box 2 · frets 5–8

A ionian augmented in box 2 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 12 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	5, 7	A, B
5 (A)	5, 8	D, E♯
4 (D)	6, 7	G♯, A
3 (G)	6, 7	C♯, D
2 (B)	6, 7	E♯, F♯
1 (e)	5, 7	A, B

Box 3 · frets 7–10

A ionian augmented in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 15 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	7, 9, 10	B, C♯, D
5 (A)	8, 9	E♯, F♯
4 (D)	7, 9	A, B
3 (G)	7, 10	D, E♯
2 (B)	7, 9, 10	F♯, G♯, A
1 (e)	7, 9, 10	B, C♯, D

Box 4 · frets 9–12

A ionian augmented in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 15 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	9, 10	C♯, D
5 (A)	9, 11, 12	F♯, G♯, A
4 (D)	9, 11, 12	B, C♯, D
3 (G)	10, 11	E♯, F♯
2 (B)	9, 10, 12	G♯, A, B
1 (e)	9, 10	C♯, D

Why it sounds like that

Raise the fifth of A major to E♯ and you get A ionian augmented. The scale keeps the major third and major seventh while the sharp five creates a whole-and-a-half step between D and E♯. Compare it with A major to hear that single altered degree.

When to use it

Use it over A augmented or A augmented major 7th chords. The sharp five also fits dominant-function passages in A major. Try it in jazz or fusion lines where the augmented colour is explicit.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It places the root on string 6, fret 5 and covers frets 1–4, making it easy to connect to open-position A major shapes.

Common questions

Which notes are in A ionian augmented?

The notes are A, B, C♯, D, E♯, F♯, and G♯. It is a seven-note scale. The raised fifth E♯ replaces the natural E from A major.

What chords fit A ionian augmented?

The tonic chord is A augmented or A augmented major 7th. You can also use it over A major progressions when you want a sharp-five colour. The scale contains the major third and major seventh.

How does A ionian augmented differ from A major?

Only the fifth degree changes: E becomes E♯. The rest of the scale is identical to A major. This one alteration creates the augmented sound.