The Lydian ♯2 mode on bass:
notes, formula and position

The Lydian ♯2 mode has 7 notes: 1 ♯2 3 ♯4 5 6 7. In A, that gives A, B♯, C♯, D♯, E, F♯ and G♯. The 6th mode of harmonic minor: Lydian with an augmented second. A rare color, used in jazz and fusion.

Also called: mode VI of harmonic minor.

Formula and notes

1 ♯2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

The steps between the notes, from the root to the octave: step and a half – half step – whole step – half step – whole step – whole step – half step. In A:

Where the Lydian ♯2 mode comes from

It is the 6th mode of harmonic minor: you play the notes of harmonic minor starting from its 6th degree. The Lydian ♯2 mode in A therefore has the same notes as C♯ harmonic minor. What changes is the home note: the root A, the note your line keeps coming back to.

One position on the neck

The Lydian ♯2 mode in A, in the 5th-fret position: one finger per fret, from the 4th to the 8th fret, on all four strings. The numbers are the degrees; the root is in gold.

The same position as bass tab (fret by fret, from the low E string to the G string):

G|-5--6--8-|
D|-4--6--7-|
A|-4--6--7-|
E|-4--5--8-|

For another key, move the whole shape: the root on the E string sets the key (3rd fret for G, 8th fret for C).

The sound of the Lydian ♯2 mode

6th mode. Lydian with augmented second. Very colorful with its two augmented notes.

You mostly hear it in jazz and fusion.

Which chords to play it over

In A, the Lydian ♯2 mode fits Amaj7♯11. On bass, keep the root on the strong beats and use the other notes to connect the chords.

Neighbouring scales

These scales differ from the Lydian ♯2 mode by a single note. Comparing them lets you hear exactly what that note brings.

• The Lydian mode: 2 instead of ♯2.
• The Hungarian major scale: ♭7 instead of 7.

Practice it with UnitBasse

This diagram shows a single position, in a single key. In UnitBasse, this scale is shown across the whole neck and in all twelve keys, as note names, intervals or degrees, with one color per degree. You can listen to it, see the chords that go with it, switch keys in one click, and play it over a chord chart with BackTrack, the app’s backing band. The app has 69 scales in 12 families.

Frequently asked questions