Playing the C Ionian Augmented Scale
Learn the C Ionian #5 scale as C, D, E, F, G#, A and B. Only one note differs from C major: G becomes G#, and that is why the tonic chord is a C augmented triad instead of a plain C.
With no open string to lean on, work out the shapes from the root, which lies on the 8th fret of the low E string or the 3rd fret of the A string. The notes are those of A harmonic minor starting on their third degree. Try scale fingering to keep the stretches tidy.
Play the C ionian #5 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the C ionian #5 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Root | 0 |
| D | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| E | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| F | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| G# | #5 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| A | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| B | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
C ionian #5 scale notes:
How the ionian #5 scale is built:
The ionian #5 scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 4 #5 6 7, which gives the step pattern W-W-H-W+H-H-W-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 3 of the Harmonic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Ionian Augmented.
C Ionian #5 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (B)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the C ionian #5 scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the ionian #5 scale, starting from a different degree.
The ionian #5 scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
