Lydian augmented scale

Lydian augmented scale on C  Play.

In music, the Lydian augmented scale (Lydian ♯5 scale) is the third mode of the ascending melodic minor scale or jazz minor scale.

Starting on C, the notes would be as follows:

C  - D  - E  - F# - G# - A  - B  - C'

Generically the whole and half steps are:

-  W -  W -  W -  W -  H -  W -  H -

Building on the first scale degree, the scale yields both a Major 7(♯5) chord (C-E-G♯-B)  Play and a Major 7(♯11) chord (C-E-G♯-B-F♯). It functions as a I+  Play. See: chord-scale system.

"This scale can be used to create a cool altered major sound." "It has a polychord sound built in," created by superimposing the Cmaj and the Emaj ( Play) and/or F♯dim ( Play) triads that exist in the scale, this being "a very common practice for most bop and post-bop players (such as McCoy Tyner)."

The scale may be thought of as a major scale with raised fourth and fifth, or as the relative to the melodic minor ascending scale (C Lydian augmented and a melodic minor ascending share the same notes).

See also

• Jazz scale
• Lydian chord
• Lydian mode

Further reading

• Coker, Jerry (1997). Jerry Coker's Complete Method for Improvisation, p.36. ISBN 978-0-7692-1856-4.
• Hewitt, Michael. 2013. Musical Scales of the World. The Note Tree. ISBN 978-0957547001.