C♭ Lydian Augmented at a glance
Lydian Augmented is a jazz favourite over augmented major-7 chords. The raised fifth gives an unsettled, dreamy quality — film composers use it for magical or surreal moments. Built on the root C♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C♭ D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4A · 5A · 6M · 7M |
| Step pattern | W W W W H W H |
| Chords in the key | C♭+D♭E♭F°G°A♭mB♭m |
Chords in the C♭ Lydian Augmented scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
C♭ Lydian Augmented on the piano
Improvisation drone · C♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C♭ Lydian Augmented uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, A♭ and B♭) and three white. C♭ is the white key you'd normally call B.
C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F · G · A♭ · B♭
Play C♭ Lydian Augmented on the online piano
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C♭ Lydian Augmented on the guitar
C♭ Lydian Augmented - fr 0–12
C♭ Lydian Augmented on the staff
Notes of the C♭ Lydian Augmented scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | D♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | E♭ | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | F | augmented 4th4A | 6 | |
| 5 | G | augmented 5th5A | 8 | |
| 6 | A♭ | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | B♭ | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes C♭ Lydian Augmented different
Lydian augmented is Lydian with a raised fifth, and that ♯5 is the one note separating the two. It's the third mode of melodic minor. Without a perfect fifth its tonic chord is an augmented triad, so the scale fits a maj7♯5 chord. Its first five notes are the same as the whole-tone scale's; only the top of the scale, 6 and 7, breaks the pattern of whole steps. On C♭, C♭ Lydian Augmented has G where C♭ Lydian has G♭; every other note is shared with C♭ Lydian (C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭).
How to use the C♭ Lydian Augmented scale
The diatonic chords of C♭ Lydian Augmented are: I+ = C♭+, II = D♭, III = E♭, iv° = F°, v° = G°, vi = A♭m, vii = B♭m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C♭ Lydian Augmented. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Lydian Augmented is a jazz favourite over augmented major-7 chords. The raised fifth gives an unsettled, dreamy quality — film composers use it for magical or surreal moments.
Practice tips
Target the raised fifth (♯5) over a major-7♯5 chord to lock in the lydian augmented sound. Try arpeggiating the I and III chords — both are augmented triads — to hear how unstable the scale is.
Formula & step pattern
The C♭ Lydian Augmented scale follows the third mode of melodic minor — major with a raised fourth and fifth (1, 2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7). Step pattern: W - W - W - W - H - W - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3M · 4A · 5A · 6M · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear C♭ Lydian Augmented
Start with the music described above: listen for C♭ Lydian Augmented in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the C♭ Lydian Augmented scale?
The C♭ Lydian Augmented scale contains C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭.
What is the formula for the C♭ Lydian Augmented scale?
C♭ Lydian Augmented follows the third mode of melodic minor — major with a raised fourth and fifth (1, 2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7).
Is C♭ Lydian Augmented a major or minor scale?
C♭ Lydian Augmented is a lydian augmented scale. Third mode of melodic minor — Lydian with a raised fifth, dreamy and otherworldly.
What chords belong to the C♭ Lydian Augmented scale?
The diatonic chords of C♭ Lydian Augmented are C♭+, D♭, E♭, F°, G°, A♭m, B♭m.
Which genres use C♭ Lydian Augmented?
Lydian Augmented is a jazz favourite over augmented major-7 chords. The raised fifth gives an unsettled, dreamy quality — film composers use it for magical or surreal moments.
How do you play the C♭ Lydian Augmented scale on the piano?
On the piano C♭ Lydian Augmented uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, A♭ and B♭) and three white. C♭ is the white key you'd normally call B.
What is the difference between C♭ Lydian Augmented and C♭ Lydian?
On C♭, C♭ Lydian Augmented has G where C♭ Lydian has G♭; every other note is shared with C♭ Lydian (C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭).
How do I practise the C♭ Lydian Augmented scale?
Target the raised fifth (♯5) over a major-7♯5 chord to lock in the lydian augmented sound. Try arpeggiating the I and III chords — both are augmented triads — to hear how unstable the scale is.