Lydian Augmented #2 Mode on Guitar: Notes, Chords & Examples

  • May 21, 2026

The Lydian Augmented #2 mode is a bright, strange, futuristic major mode with a sharp edge.

It has the floating quality of Lydian, the dreamy instability of an augmented 5th, and the spicy bite of a raised 2nd. On guitar, it sounds modern, cinematic, and slightly alien — perfect for progressive rock, fusion, metal interludes, and experimental songwriting.

If regular Lydian sounds like “wide open sky,” Lydian Augmented #2 sounds more like a glowing sci-fi skyline.

It is not a common everyday rock mode, but that is exactly what makes it useful. If you want a major sound that does not feel predictable, this mode gives you plenty of color.

Formula

The interval formula for Lydian Augmented #2 is:

1 #2 3 #4 #5 6 7

Compared to the major scale:

  • The 2nd is raised: D becomes D#
  • The 4th is raised: F becomes F#
  • The 5th is raised: G becomes G#

So it keeps the major 3rd and major 7th, but adds three sharp colors.

That gives the mode a very bright, tense, and harmonically unstable sound.

Notes in C

The notes of C Lydian Augmented #2 are:

C D# E F# G# A B

Scale degrees:

DegreeNote
1C
#2D#
3E
#4F#
#5G#
6A
7B

The note D# is important. Even though it is enharmonically the same pitch as Eb, we call it D# here because it functions as a raised 2nd, not a minor 3rd.

That distinction matters because the scale also contains E, the major 3rd.

So you get this tense chromatic relationship:

D# to E

That half-step is one of the defining sounds of the mode.

The Chord That Defines the Mode

The defining chord of C Lydian Augmented #2 is:

Cmaj7#5(#9#11)

Basic chord tones:

C E G# B

That gives you:

  • C = root
  • E = major 3rd
  • G# = augmented 5th
  • B = major 7th

This is already a strong modal chord: Cmaj7#5.

To bring out the full mode, add:

  • D# as the #9
  • F# as the #11
  • A as the 13

So the full color is:

C E G# B D# F# A

That is a big, colorful sound. On guitar, you usually do not need to play every note at once. Even a smaller voicing like this can suggest the mode:

Cmaj7#5(#11)

e|--0--
B|--0--
G|--1--
D|--2--
A|--3--
E|-----

Notes: C E G# B F#

The essential ingredients are:

  • Major 3rd for the bright major quality
  • #5 for the augmented, floating sound
  • #11 for the Lydian lift
  • #9 for the unusual bite

If you want the mode to sound distinct from regular Lydian Augmented, make sure you feature the D#.

Chord Progressions

Because this is an advanced synthetic mode, chord progressions can easily pull away from C. To keep the sound centered, use C pedal tones, repeat the tonic chord often, or write riffs that clearly return to C.

Here are three practical progressions in C Lydian Augmented #2.

Progression 1

Roman numerals:

Imaj7#5 – IIImaj7 – #ivm7b5 – Imaj7#5

Chords in C:

Cmaj7#5 – Emaj7 – F#m7b5 – Cmaj7#5

This progression sounds bright, glassy, and progressive.

The Emaj7 chord brings out the notes E G# B D#, which strongly highlights the major 3rd, augmented 5th, major 7th, and raised 2nd of C.

The F#m7b5 chord adds tension without sounding traditionally “dark.” It shares important color tones with C Lydian Augmented #2, especially F#, A, C, and E.

Use this for fusion intros, clean prog sections, or atmospheric songwriting.

Progression 2

Roman numerals:

Imaj7#5 – #iidim7 – VII7 – Imaj7#5

Chords in C:

Cmaj7#5 – D#dim7 – B7 – Cmaj7#5

This one is more tense and mysterious.

The D#dim7 chord strongly emphasizes the raised 2nd:

D# F# A C

That chord contains the #2, #4, 6, and root of the mode. It has a symmetrical, unstable sound that works well for progressive metal or fusion.

The B7 chord creates a strong pull back toward C because B is the major 7th of the mode. It almost feels like it wants to resolve upward into the tonic.

This progression has a cinematic “villain theme in space” kind of mood.

Progression 3

Roman numerals:

Imaj7#5 – #vm7 – vimMaj7 – Imaj7#5

Chords in C:

Cmaj7#5 – G#m7 – Am(maj7) – Cmaj7#5

This progression is darker and more emotional.

The G#m7 chord emphasizes the augmented 5th of C as a chord root:

G# B D# F#

That gives you the #5, 7, #2, and #4 of the mode.

The Am(maj7) chord adds a dramatic, almost film-score quality:

A C E G#

It contains the 6, root, major 3rd, and augmented 5th of the mode.

This is a great progression for clean arpeggios, odd-meter riffs, or fusion-style solo sections.

Famous Songs and Guitarists Using C Lydian Augmented #2

This mode is obscure.

There are no widely known guitar songs that are clearly and reliably identified as being written specifically in C Lydian Augmented #2.

That does not mean the sound is unusable. It just means this is more of a composer’s mode or fusion vocabulary color than a standard rock scale.

You may hear related sounds in players and styles associated with:

  • Allan Holdsworth — commonly associated with advanced major-scale colors, including maj7#5 and Lydian Augmented-style harmony.
  • Frank Zappa — known for unusual synthetic scales, angular melodies, and non-standard harmonic colors.
  • Steve Vai — often uses Lydian and exotic modal sounds, though not necessarily this exact mode.
  • Modern fusion and progressive metal players — especially in sections involving major 7 sharp 5 chords, symmetrical diminished movement, or chromatic modal tension.

For a more familiar reference point, listen to Lydian-based guitar music first, such as Joe Satriani’s “Flying in a Blue Dream.”

That song is commonly associated with Lydian sounds, not Lydian Augmented #2, but it can help you hear the “bright raised 4th” sound before adding the #5 and #2.

Guitar Fretboard Shape

Here is a practical C Lydian Augmented #2 shape starting around the 8th fret.

Notes:

C D# E F# G# A B

e|-------------------------11-12-14-|
B|------------------10-12-13--------|
G|------------9-11-13---------------|
D|------9-10-13---------------------|
A|-9-11-12--------------------------|
E|-8-11-12--------------------------|

Start and end on C when practicing so your ear hears C as the tonal center.

Important notes to notice:

  • D# to E: the #2 resolving into the major 3rd
  • F#: the Lydian #4
  • G#: the augmented 5th
  • B to C: the major 7th resolving into the root

Try playing the shape slowly over a C drone. The mode may sound strange at first, but the character becomes clearer when the root is stable.

Why Guitarists Love This Mode

Emotional Flavor

C Lydian Augmented #2 sounds bright, tense, and otherworldly.

It is major, but not comfortable in a traditional way. The raised 2nd and raised 5th make it feel unstable and futuristic.

This makes it great for:

  • Sci-fi moods
  • Dreamlike tension
  • Progressive harmony
  • Floating major chords with a dangerous edge

Riff Potential

The mode has several strong half-step and wide-interval sounds.

Useful riff fragments include:

C - D# - E

That gives you the #2 to major 3rd crunch.

E - F# - G#

That gives you a bright whole-tone-style climb.

B - C - D#

That gives you a tense leading-tone move into the root, then a sharp leap into the #2.

For metal, try pedaling low C while moving upper notes like:

C – D# – E – F# – G#

That creates a sharp, angular riff sound.

Soloing Applications

This mode works well over:

  • Cmaj7#5
  • Cmaj7#5#11
  • Cmaj7#5(#9)
  • Static C pedal vamps
  • Fusion-style major 7 sharp 5 harmony
  • Progressive metal clean sections

When soloing, do not just run the scale up and down.

Instead, target the color tones:

  • D# for the #2/#9 tension
  • F# for the Lydian sound
  • G# for the augmented sound
  • B for the major 7th pull into C

Genres Where It Works Well

C Lydian Augmented #2 fits naturally in:

  • Progressive rock
  • Progressive metal
  • Jazz fusion
  • Instrumental guitar music
  • Cinematic scoring
  • Experimental songwriting
  • Ambient and post-rock sections

It is less common in blues, classic rock, country, or straightforward pop unless used briefly as a color.

Tips for Practicing

Use a Drone

Start with a C drone.

Let C ring while you slowly play the scale:

C D# E F# G# A B C

Listen carefully to how each note feels against the root.

The most important colors are:

  • D# = sharp, tense, exotic
  • F# = floating Lydian brightness
  • G# = augmented, dreamlike instability
  • B = major 7th tension

Try Simple Chord Vamps

Use short vamps instead of long progressions.

Good starting vamps:

Cmaj7#5  | Emaj7
Cmaj7#5  | D#dim7
Cmaj7#5  | B7

Keep returning to C so the mode does not lose its center.

Improvise with Small Motifs

Do not try to use all seven notes immediately.

Start with three-note cells:

C - D# - E
F# - G# - A
B - C - D#

Repeat them rhythmically. Move them across strings. Make them sound like music, not exercises.

Target Intervals

Focus on landing on the characteristic intervals.

Against a C root, practice resolving into:

  • #2 to 3: D# to E
  • #4 to #5: F# to G#
  • 7 to 1: B to C
  • #5 to 6: G# to A

These small movements define the sound better than simply playing the scale from bottom to top.

Try This Mode in SLModes

Want to explore C Lydian Augmented #2 more deeply?

Try it in SLModes.

SLModes helps you hear, visualize, and write with modes using:

  • Interactive chord options
  • Guitar fretboard layouts
  • Modal modulation tools
  • Scale and harmony exploration
  • Negative harmony experiments

For a mode this colorful, it helps to see how the chords, fretboard shapes, and modal colors connect.

Open C Lydian Augmented #2 in SLModes, loop a C-based vamp, and start experimenting with those sharp, futuristic sounds.