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 three black keys (C♯, D♯ and A♯) and four white. E♯, F𝄪, G𝄪 and B♯ are the white keys you'd normally call F, G, A and C.
C♯ · D♯ · E♯ · F𝄪 · G𝄪 · A♯ · B♯
Try C♯ Lydian Augmented on the virtual piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
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 three black keys (C♯, D♯ and A♯) and four white. E♯, F𝄪, G𝄪 and B♯ are the white keys you'd normally call F, G, A and C.
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.