Harmonic MinorDegree 3

Ionian ♯5

Bright white with a green tint. familiar major brightness with something slightly 'off' that catches your attention.

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Scale NotesIonian ♯5 in C
C
D
E
F
G♯
A
B
Interval Formula
1234♯567
Primary Chord
The tonic chord built from this mode
Cmaj7♯5

Chord Tones

CEG♯B

All Diatonic Chords

Cmaj7♯5Dm7Em(maj7)Fmaj7♯11G♯m7♭5Am7Bm7
Chord Voicings
Guitar voicings for Cmaj7♯5
Cmaj7♯58Root, 7, 3, #5. Shimmering augmented major 7th.
Cmaj7♯5Root, 3, 7, root, ♯5. Full augmented maj7 from 5th string.
Cmaj7♯54Root, 3, 7, ♯5. Augmented maj7 on top strings.
Fretboard

Ionian ♯5 in C

123456789101112131415EADGBeEFG♯ABCDEFABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEF
RootCharacteristic toneScale tone
Listen
Audio. Ionian ♯5 in C
Tempo:
180 BPM

Musical Context

Diatonic Context
Chords built from the A harmonic minor scale — click any chord for voicings
Where to Use Ionian ♯5
Primary Chord
Cmaj7♯5
Function
Tonic Substitute
Key Context
The III⁺ chord in A harmonic minor

The major scale with one note pushed sharp.

Related Chord Voicings
Extensions, substitutions, and simplifications for Cmaj7♯5

Simplified Voicings

Example Progressions
Progressions where Ionian ♯5 applies (in C)
III⁺
III⁺: Cmaj7♯5

A sustained augmented major 7th chord.

Practice in Play Along →
III⁺ → III⁺ → VI
III⁺: Cmaj7♯5III⁺: Cmaj7♯5VI: Fmaj7

The ♯5 resolves up by half step to the 6th (which becomes the 3rd of IV).

Practice in Play Along →
V → i → iv → vii° → III⁺
V: E7i: Am(maj7)iv: Dm7vii°: G♯dim7III⁺: Cmaj7♯5

In harmonic minor, the III chord is augmented.

Practice in Play Along →
Arpeggio Connection
The arpeggio that matches the Cmaj7♯5 chord
Augmented Major 7th
Cmaj7♯5
Tones
C
R
E
3
G♯
#5
B
7
Highlighted = guide tones (define chord quality)

Sound

The major scale with one note pushed sharp. the ♯5 adds an unsettling, augmented quality that disrupts the expected major stability. Bright but slightly off-kilter, like a funhouse mirror version of Ionian.

Practical Use Cases

  • ●Over maj7♯5 chords
  • ●Augmented major passages
  • ●Harmonic minor-based major sounds
  • ●Modern jazz compositions

Practical Notes

The third mode of harmonic minor. Less common than Lydian Augmented (from melodic minor) for maj7♯5 chords, but it has a different character because of the natural 4th instead of ♯4. The augmented 2nd between the 6th and 7th degree can make melodic lines tricky. You'll encounter this mostly when analyzing harmonic minor harmony rather than as a go-to improvisation choice.

majoraugmentedharmonic-minor-familyadvanced

Practice Drills

Ascending & Descending in One PositionBeginnerTechnique
5 min

Play the mode ascending and descending within a single five-fret box. Build muscle memory and connect the sound to the shape.

Three-Notes-Per-String PatternsIntermediateTechnique
10 min

Play the mode using three notes on every string, stretching across the neck. Great for building legato technique and hearing the scale in a linear way.

Emphasize Characteristic Tones on Strong BeatsIntermediateImprovisation
10 min

Create short melodic phrases that land the mode's characteristic tone(s) on beats 1 and 3. This trains you to bring out the sound that defines the mode.

Improvise Over a Matching ChordBeginnerImprovisation
5 min

Play the mode's parent chord as a loop (or use a backing track) and improvise over it for two minutes. This connects the mode to its harmonic context.

Create 3 Licks Using Only Strings 1–3IntermediateImprovisation
10 min

Compose three short licks (2–4 beats each) using only the top three strings. This forces creativity within a constraint and builds upper-register vocabulary.

Resolve from Tension to StabilityIntermediateEar Training
8 min

Practice approaching chord tones from a half step above or below, training your ear to hear tension resolve.

Try Ionian ♯5 in Play Along

Practice improvising over real chord changes with guided scale and target note suggestions.

Compare With

Ionian ♯5 vs Lydian Augmented
Two augmented major scales from different families. Both have a ♯5, but they come from harmonic minor and melodic minor respectively, and the 4th degree changes their practical value significantly.

Related Modes

IonianLydian Augmented

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