F♯ 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 F♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where F♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C𝄪 D♯ E♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4A · 5A · 6M · 7M |
| Step pattern | W W W W H W H |
| Chords in the key | F♯+G♯A♯B♯°C𝄪°D♯mE♯m |
Chords in the F♯ Lydian Augmented scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
F♯ Lydian Augmented on the piano
Improvisation drone · F♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano F♯ Lydian Augmented uses four black keys (F♯, G♯, A♯ and D♯) and three white. B♯, C𝄪 and E♯ are the white keys you'd normally call C, D and F.
F♯ · G♯ · A♯ · B♯ · C𝄪 · D♯ · E♯
Play F♯ Lydian Augmented on the online piano
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F♯ Lydian Augmented on the guitar
F♯ Lydian Augmented - fr 0–12
F♯ Lydian Augmented on the staff
Notes of the F♯ Lydian Augmented scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | G♯ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | A♯ | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | B♯ | augmented 4th4A | 6 | |
| 5 | C𝄪 | augmented 5th5A | 8 | |
| 6 | D♯ | major 6th6M | 9 | |
| 7 | E♯ | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes F♯ 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 F♯, F♯ Lydian Augmented has C𝄪 where F♯ Lydian has C♯; every other note is shared with F♯ Lydian (F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯).
How to use the F♯ Lydian Augmented scale
The diatonic chords of F♯ Lydian Augmented are: I+ = F♯+, II = G♯, III = A♯, iv° = B♯°, v° = C𝄪°, vi = D♯m, vii = E♯m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in F♯ 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 F♯ 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 F♯ Lydian Augmented
Start with the music described above: listen for F♯ 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 F♯ Lydian Augmented scale?
The F♯ Lydian Augmented scale contains F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯, C𝄪, D♯ and E♯.
What is the formula for the F♯ Lydian Augmented scale?
F♯ Lydian Augmented follows the third mode of melodic minor — major with a raised fourth and fifth (1, 2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7).
Is F♯ Lydian Augmented a major or minor scale?
F♯ 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 F♯ Lydian Augmented scale?
The diatonic chords of F♯ Lydian Augmented are F♯+, G♯, A♯, B♯°, C𝄪°, D♯m, E♯m.
Which genres use F♯ 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 F♯ Lydian Augmented scale on the piano?
On the piano F♯ Lydian Augmented uses four black keys (F♯, G♯, A♯ and D♯) and three white. B♯, C𝄪 and E♯ are the white keys you'd normally call C, D and F.
What is the difference between F♯ Lydian Augmented and F♯ Lydian?
On F♯, F♯ Lydian Augmented has C𝄪 where F♯ Lydian has C♯; every other note is shared with F♯ Lydian (F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯).
How do I practise the F♯ 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.