Chord Colors

G♯ Ionian Augmented scale

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About the G sharp Ionian Augmented scale

G sharp Ionian Augmented is used for jazz reharmonization and cinematic writing. Think of it as the major scale with a raised fifth, bright but slightly unhinged.

Its notes are G, A, B, C, D♯♯, E, and F♯♯. The formula is W W H 1½ H W H. It is the third mode of E Harmonic Minor.

Also called Ionian 5 and Augmented Major.

The open-string notes E and G all sit inside this mode. The 4th fret of the low E string is the lowest G on the neck. Capo the first fret to play G Ionian Augmented with G-shape fingerings.

Positions

Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.

CAGED

Five shapes, each anchored to a chord form you already know, the pop and rock default that ties your scales to your chords. The outlined notes are that chord, so you can see the C, A, G, E, and D shapes inside the scale.

G shapefr 1
E shapefr 3
D shapefr 5
C shapefr 8
A shapefr 10
3NPS

3NPS stands for 3 notes per string. It lays the scale out in seven even shapes for rock and metal lead, and favors speed because the picking pattern stays consistent across every string.

Shape 2fr 1
Shape 3fr 3
Shape 4fr 4
Shape 5fr 6
Shape 6fr 8
Shape 7fr 9
7-position system

7 four-fret boxes, one per scale degree, each a single hand position with almost no shifting. The jazz and classical way, from William Leavitt's Berklee method.

Position 1open
Position 2fr 1
Position 3fr 3
Position 4fr 4
Position 5fr 6
Position 6fr 8
Position 7fr 9

Chords in the key of G sharp Ionian Augmented

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

I+ G sharp augmented
Position 1 of 4
ii A sharp minor
Position 1 of 4
III B sharp
Position 1 of 4
IV C sharp
Position 1 of 4
D double sharp diminished
Position 1 of 4
vi E sharp minor
Position 1 of 4
vii° F double sharp diminished
Position 1 of 4

Seventh chords in G sharp Ionian Augmented

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

I+ G sharp major seven sharp five
Position 1 of 4
ii A sharp minor seven
Position 1 of 4
III B sharp seven
Position 1 of 4
IV C sharp major seven
Position 1 of 4
D double sharp diminished seven
Position 1 of 4
vi E sharp minor major seven
Position 1 of 4
vii° F double sharp minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4

Progressions in G sharp Ionian Augmented

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1G#G♯Root
2A#A♯Major 2nd
3B#B♯Major 3rd
4C#C♯Perfect 4th
5D##D♯♯Augmented 5th
6E#E♯Major 6th
7F##F♯♯Major 7th
StepsW W H 1½ H W H
Semitones2-2-1-3-1-2-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Ionian Augmented in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

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Ab Ionian Augmented scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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