C♯ lydian augmented scale on guitar

C♯ lydian augmented is C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯♯, G♯♯, A♯, B♯. Box 2 spans frets 3–6 with roots on strings 6, 3, and 1.

E♯F♯♯A♯B♯C♯D♯E♯G♯♯A♯B♯C♯D♯E♯F♯♯EADGBE1234
Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it is built

C♯1D♯2E♯3F♯♯♯4G♯♯♯5A♯6B♯7

Formula 1, 2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

How do you play the C♯ lydian augmented scale on guitar?

C♯ lydian augmented in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E♯ on the low E string at fret 1 up to F♯♯ on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)1, 3E♯, F♯♯
5 (A)1, 3, 4A♯, B♯, C♯
4 (D)1, 3D♯, E♯
3 (G)2, 3G♯♯, A♯
2 (B)1, 2, 4B♯, C♯, D♯
1 (e)1, 3E♯, F♯♯

Box 2 · frets 36

C♯ lydian augmented in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F♯♯ on the low E string at fret 3 up to A♯ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)3, 5, 6F♯♯, G♯♯, A♯
5 (A)3, 4, 6B♯, C♯, D♯
4 (D)3, 5E♯, F♯♯
3 (G)3, 5, 6A♯, B♯, C♯
2 (B)4, 6D♯, E♯
1 (e)3, 5, 6F♯♯, G♯♯, A♯

Box 3 · frets 58

C♯ lydian augmented in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 16 notes across 6 strings, from G♯♯ on the low E string at fret 5 up to B♯ on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the G string at fret 6.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)5, 6, 8G♯♯, A♯, B♯
5 (A)6, 8D♯, E♯
4 (D)5, 7, 8F♯♯, G♯♯, A♯
3 (G)5, 6, 8B♯, C♯, D♯
2 (B)6, 8E♯, F♯♯
1 (e)5, 6, 8G♯♯, A♯, B♯

Box 4 · frets 912

C♯ lydian augmented in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 12 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to D♯ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9, the D string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)9, 11C♯, D♯
5 (A)10, 12F♯♯, G♯♯
4 (D)10, 11B♯, C♯
3 (G)10, 12E♯, F♯♯
2 (B)10, 11G♯♯, A♯
1 (e)9, 11C♯, D♯

Box 5 · frets 1114

C♯ lydian augmented in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 13 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to E♯ on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the D string at fret 11 and the B string at fret 14.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)11, 13D♯, E♯
5 (A)12, 13G♯♯, A♯
4 (D)11, 13C♯, D♯
3 (G)12, 14F♯♯, G♯♯
2 (B)11, 13, 14A♯, B♯, C♯
1 (e)11, 13D♯, E♯

Why it sounds like that

C♯ lydian augmented is the fourth mode of G♯ melodic minor, with a raised fourth and fifth. It contains a tritone between the root and fourth and a leading tone to the tonic. Compare with C♯ ionian augmented, which has a natural fourth.

When to use it

C♯ lydian augmented works over C♯ augmented and C♯ augmented major 7th. It suits modern jazz in keys with seven sharps.

Which position to practise

Learn Box 2 first. It keeps the root on string 6, fret 9 and covers frets 3–6 for smooth shifts.

Common questions

What notes are in C♯ lydian augmented?

C♯ lydian augmented contains C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯♯, G♯♯, A♯, and B♯. The scale has a major 3rd, raised 4th, and raised 5th. It is a seven-note scale. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords fit C♯ lydian augmented?

C♯ lydian augmented fits C♯ augmented and C♯ augmented major 7th chords. The raised fifth matches the augmented triad. The major seventh adds tension.

What is the difference between C♯ lydian augmented and C♯ ionian augmented?

C♯ lydian augmented has a raised fourth, while C♯ ionian augmented has a natural fourth. Both scales share the raised fifth. The lydian augmented scale sounds brighter.