A♭ lydian augmented scale on ukulele

A♭ lydian augmented is A♭, B♭, C, D, E, F, G. Box 1 starts on string 4, fret 1.

GA♭B♭CDEFGB♭CGCEA123
Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it is built

A♭1B♭2C3D♯4E♯5F6G7

Formula 1, 2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

How do you play the A♭ lydian augmented scale on ukulele?

A♭ lydian augmented in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C on the C string at fret 0 up to C on the A string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
4 (G)0, 1, 3G, A♭, B♭
3 (C)0, 2C, D
2 (E)0, 1, 3E, F, G
1 (A)1, 3B♭, C

Box 2 · frets 25

A♭ lydian augmented in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D on the C string at fret 2 up to D on the A string at fret 5. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.

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

Box 3 · frets 47

A♭ lydian augmented in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 9 notes across 4 strings, from E on the C string at fret 4 up to E on the A string at fret 7. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.

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

Box 4 · frets 811

A♭ lydian augmented in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the C string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 11.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
4 (G)9, 10E, F
3 (C)8, 10A♭, B♭
2 (E)8, 10C, D
1 (A)8, 10, 11F, G, A♭

Box 5 · frets 1012

A♭ lydian augmented in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 12, 8 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the C string at fret 10 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 11.

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

Why it sounds like that

A♭ lydian augmented raises the fourth and fifth of A♭ major, producing intervals 1, 2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7. The tritone lies between A♭ and D, and the leading tone is G to A♭. Compare with A♭ ionian augmented, which has a natural fourth.

When to use it

A♭ lydian augmented fits A♭ augmented and A♭ augmented major 7th. It also works over B♭ major and B♭ 5th chords. The scale suits modern jazz and fusion lines.

Which position to practise

Learn Box 1 first. It places the root on string 4, fret 1 and covers frets 0–3.

Common questions

What notes are in A♭ lydian augmented?

A♭ lydian augmented contains A♭, B♭, C, D, E, F, and G. The formula is 1, 2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7. It has a tritone and a leading tone. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords fit A♭ lydian augmented?

A♭ lydian augmented fits A♭ augmented and A♭ augmented major 7th chords. It also works over B♭ major and B♭ 5th. Use it for a bright, tense sound.

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

A♭ lydian augmented has a raised fourth, D, while A♭ ionian augmented has a natural fourth, D♭. Both scales share the augmented fifth, E. The raised fourth creates the lydian augmented sound.