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.

How does it sound?

Before anything else, let’s hear how it sounds. This can best be done by playing a chord from the mode, and playing the notes of the mode arpeggiated on top of it. This is the best and quickest way to determine the feel of a mode.

This can be quickly done using SLModes, a software dedicated to the music modes, and the following sound was generated by it:

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 Progression (Example)

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.

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.

Guitar Fretboard Shape

Here’s the mode mapped across the full fretboard, generated with my software SLModes.

The diagram shows every occurrence of the mode across the neck:

🟢 Green dots = the root note, your anchor points
🟠 Orange dots = the rest of the scale tones

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.

If you like modes, SLModes is for you

SLModes is the software for exploring everything related to music modes.

It helps you experiment with:

  • Modal chords
  • Guitar fretboard shapes
  • Chord progressions
  • Modal modulation
  • Negative harmony ideas

If you play guitar and want to access 60+ music modes, SLModes is waiting for you

Learn more about SLModes

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