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  5. The Ionian #5 Mode aka Major Augmented Scale For Guitar. Diagrams, theory and charts.

The Ionian #5 Mode aka Major Augmented Scale For Guitar. Diagrams, theory and charts.

The Ionian Augmented scale, also known as major augmented, is the third mode of the harmonic minor scale. As the name suggests, this is a variation of the Ionian mode where the fifth note of the scale is augmented by a half step (#5).

Major augmented scale

How Is Built The Ionian #5 Mode?

The Ionian #5 mode aka Ionian augmented or major augmented has seven notes, just like the Ionian mode (major scale) but with an augmented fifth instead of a perfect fifth.

The formula is 1 (tonic) - 2 (major second) - 3 (major third) - 4 (perfect fourth) - #5 (augmented fifth) - 6 (major sixth) - 7 (major seventh).

C Ionian #5 mode C D E F G# A B
Formula 1 2 (9) 3 4 (11) 5# 6 (13) 7
Intervals W W H W+H H W H

 

Notice that the Ionian #5 mode provides a typical interval, the 1-1/2 step distance found in all the modes of the harmonic minor family. 

Difference With The Ionian Mode?

The diagrams below show the unique difference between the Ionian mode (better known as major scale) and the Ionian augmented mode. The Ionian augmented scale has an augmented fifth (#5) instead of a natural fifth (5).

Ionian modes comparison

Comparison With Ionian b6 Scale.

The Ionian #5 mode can be confused with the Ionian b6 scale better known as harmonic major scale. As shown in the diagrams below, there is a slight difference : The Ionian b6 has a perfect fifth (5) and a minor sixth (b6).

Harmonic major scale vs ionian augmented 5

One Octave Shapes

These four diagrams show how to play the Ionian #5 mode on the guitar within the space of one octave.

Ionian augmented scale guitar positions

Two Octave Shapes

Each of these two shapes have notes within two octaves. To improve your  understanding of the Ionian #5 mode it is better to start playing these shapes starting from the tonic (1). 

Then, you can try to play them starting from chord tones as 3, 5 and 7.

Ionian augmented scale guitar shapes

3 Notes Per Strings Shapes

The seven positions below show how to play the Ionian #5 scale in order to cover the whole guitar neck using three notes per string. Each shape starts from a different step of the scale.

Ionian augmented fifth guitar diagrams 1

Related Chord Shapes

The Ionian #5 mode is basically played over maj7#5 chords. Although these chords are uncommon, they can be used as a substitute for major chord types when you want to add a little bit of tension.

Now you know how to play the Ionian #5 scale you have to connect it with the related augmented major seventh chord shapes below.

The first serie (the first three diagrams) represents drop 2 chord voicing shapes (root positions and inversions). 

Augmented major seventh chords for guitar

The two other guitar diagrams show how to play drop 3 major 7#5 chords.

Augmented major seventh guitar chords

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Last edited: 2024-03-20

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