What is the C Lydian Augmented Scale?
Lydian augmented is the third mode of the melodic minor scale, combining the dreamy #4 of Lydian with a #5 that pushes the brightness even further into otherworldly territory. It's a favorite in modern jazz for augmented major 7th chords, creating a sound that feels both familiar and strangely beautiful. Here's how the C Lydian Augmented Scale lays out on the fretboard.
Notes and Positions
Lydian with a raised 5th; 3rd mode of melodic minor. Bright and ethereal. On guitar, you can treat this as both a lead vocabulary and a way to see chord tones inside common shapes. Start with one box, then connect it to the nearest root on the next string set. In the key of C, the notes are: C, D, E, F#, G#, A, B.
How to Use It
You'll often hear it in Jazz, Fusion, and Film Scores. A good way to internalize the sound is to sing the root, then sing a few scale degrees before you play them.
Practice in small fragments (3-4 notes) and connect them across adjacent positions. Use the interactive fretboard above to spot repeats of the same note on different strings and frets.