D Ionian Augmented Scale on Guitar: Notes

How it is built

D1E2F♯3G4A♯♯5B6C♯7

Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

D1D Augmented D Augmented Major 7th
E2E Minor E 5th E Suspended 2nd E Minor 7th E Minor 7th Flat 5th E Minor 6th E Minor 9th E Minor Add 9 E Diminished E Diminished 7th
F♯3F♯ Major F♯ 5th F♯ Suspended 4th F♯ 7th F♯ 7th Sharp 5 F♯ 7th Suspended 4th F♯ Augmented
G4G Major G Minor G 5th G Major 7th G Minor Major 7th G 6th G Minor 6th G Diminished G Diminished 7th G Diminished Major 7th
A♯♯5B♭ Diminished B♭ Diminished 7th B♭ Augmented
B6B Minor B 5th B Suspended 2nd B Suspended 4th B Minor Major 7th B Minor Major 9th B Minor Add 9
C♯7C♯ Minor 7th Flat 5th C♯ Diminished C♯ Diminished 7th

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

D ionian augmented in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 15 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the D string at fret 0 and the B string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	0, 2, 3	E, F♯, G
5 (A)	1, 2	A♯, B
4 (D)	0, 2	D, E
3 (G)	0, 3	G, A♯
2 (B)	0, 2, 3	B, C♯, D
1 (e)	0, 2, 3	E, F♯, G

Box 2 · frets 2–5

D ionian augmented in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 15 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 5 and the B string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 3 · frets 6–9

D ionian augmented in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 15 notes across 6 strings, from A♯ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the G string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 4 · frets 10–13

D ionian augmented in box 4 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 12 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the low E string at fret 10, the D string at fret 12 and the high e string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	10, 12	D, E
5 (A)	10, 13	G, A♯
4 (D)	11, 12	C♯, D
3 (G)	11, 12	F♯, G
2 (B)	11, 12	A♯, B
1 (e)	10, 12	D, E

Why it sounds like that

Start with D major and sharpen the fifth from A to A♯. That single change produces the ionian augmented scale, with a whole-and-a-half step between G and A♯. Compare it with D major to isolate the altered degree.

When to use it

Use it over D augmented or D augmented major 7th. The scale also works over D major progressions when you want a sharp-five colour. It suits jazz and fusion contexts.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 5, fret 5 and spans frets 0–3, giving easy access to the augmented fifth on string 4.

Common questions

Which notes are in D ionian augmented?

The notes are D, E, F♯, G, A♯, B, and C♯. The raised fifth is A♯. The scale has a major third and major seventh.

What chords fit D ionian augmented?

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

How does D ionian augmented differ from D major?

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