E♭ lydian augmented scale on guitar

E♭ lydian augmented is E♭, F, G, A, B, C, D. Box 1 sits at frets 1–4 with roots on strings 4 and 2.

FGBCE♭FABCDE♭FGEADGBE1234
Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it is built

E♭1F2G3A♯4B♯5C6D7

Formula 1, 2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

How do you play the E♭ lydian augmented scale on guitar?

E♭ lydian augmented in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 13 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the D string at fret 1 and the B string at fret 4.

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

Box 2 · frets 36

E♭ lydian augmented in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 14 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the B string at fret 4.

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

Box 3 · frets 58

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

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

Box 4 · frets 710

E♭ lydian augmented in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 16 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 G string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)7, 8, 10B, C, D
5 (A)8, 10F, G
4 (D)7, 9, 10A, B, C
3 (G)7, 8, 10D, E♭, F
2 (B)8, 10G, A
1 (e)7, 8, 10B, C, D

Box 5 · frets 1114

E♭ lydian augmented in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 12 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the low E string at fret 11, the D string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 11.

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

Why it sounds like that

E♭ lydian augmented raises the fourth and fifth of E♭ major, creating a tritone against the root and a leading tone to the tonic. Compare it with E♭ ionian augmented, which keeps the natural fourth but shares the raised fifth.

When to use it

Use E♭ lydian augmented over E♭ augmented or E♭ augmented major 7th. It fits jazz and fusion lines in keys with three flats.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. Its roots on strings 4 and 2 keep the hand centred from frets 1 to 5.

Common questions

What notes are in E♭ lydian augmented?

E♭ lydian augmented contains E♭, F, G, A, B, C, and D. 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 E♭ lydian augmented?

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

What is the difference between E♭ lydian augmented and E♭ ionian augmented?

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