Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
A Lydian ♯2
♯2 (augmented 2nd) together with ♯4. Exotic and shimmering.
Where you hear it: Over maj7♯11 with a ♯9 colour.
Step pattern W+H – H – W – H – W – W – H
- Parent scale: D♭ harmonic minor (starts on its 6th degree)
- Compared with A major: ♯2 B → B♯, ♯4 D → D♯
- Compared with A natural minor: ♯2 B → B♯, ♯3 C → C♯, ♯4 D → D♯, ♯6 F → F♯, ♯7 G → G♯
A Lydian ♯2 on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r ♯2 3 5 6: playedother notes of Lydian ♯2: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as A Lydian ♯2
Every chord in A Lydian ♯2
- Amaj71/18easyopen
- B♯dim71/4easyfret 10
- C♯m(maj7)1/4mediumfret 4
- D♯m7♭51/14easyfret 1
- Emaj7♯51/9easyfret 12· shell
- F♯m71/23easyfret 2· shell
- G♯71/17easyfret 1· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in A Lydian ♯2
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
I – VII
The VII is a dominant 7th chord that holds both signature notes of the mode, the ♯2 and the ♯4.
I – VII – vi
I, VII and vi fall by a step each time: a bright chord, a major chord one step below, then a minor one.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From A you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of A Lydian ♯2.
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Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.