Ionian ♯5 (augmented) scale in C
Ionian ♯5 (augmented) scale in C: C, D, E, F, G#, A and B, the degrees 1–2–3–4–#5–6–7. 3rd mode of harmonic minor: a major scale with a raised 5th, floating and unreal, the color of the maj7(#5) chord.
Take the major scale and raise its 5th note a half step: that's Ionian ♯5, which is also the 3rd mode of harmonic minor — in practice, its notes starting from the third degree. The raised 5th, which this page's formula spells as b6 (the same sound written another way), pulls the solid ground out from under the major scale and leaves everything floating, slightly unreal, like a photo just out of focus. It's the color that dresses the major seventh chord with a raised fifth — maj7(#5) — and it circulates more in composition and analysis than in everyday repertoire.
Example: C – D – E – F – G# – A – BFormula: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – #5 – 6 – 7In the formula, the numbers are degrees — positions counted in the reference major scale; "b" lowers a half step and "#" raises one.
Family: Harmonic minor and its modes.
The major seventh creates a strong leading tone and enables the V7 chord in a minor key. In popular practice the most relevant modes of the family are harmonic minor itself and phrygian dominant.
Chords in the harmonic field
These are the seven chords born from this scale — one built on each of its notes. Put another way: the set of chords that sounds naturally "inside" the scale. See the harmonic field of every key →
The same scale on all four instruments
In the diagrams, each dot carries its scale degree — 1 is the tonic, highlighted.