The D Ionian #5 Scale for Guitar
D, E, F#, G, A#, B and C# are the notes of the D Ionian #5 scale. A# is the raised fifth, and it is the one note that separates the scale from D major.
The open D string works as a drone while you play the scale over it. The root also appears on the 10th fret of the low E string. Since the notes are the third mode of B harmonic minor, you can borrow B minor shapes and shift your starting point. Try diagonal scale patterns to link the boxes.
Play the D ionian #5 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the D ionian #5 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root | 0 |
| E | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| F# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| A# | #5 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| B | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| C# | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
D 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.
D Ionian #5 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (D)
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 D 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
