Augmented Scales with Triplet sequence

~$~ Muhammad Noman Hasan ~$~

Email: noman.becker@gmail.com

Augmented Scale

1 - #2 - 3 - 5 - b6 - 7 - (8)

aug - ½ - aug - ½ - aug - ½

Augmented scale is a scale which is made of repeated set of an augmented step (1+ ½ step) and a half step. The notes of “A” augmented
steps are mentioned below. Here, from A ~ C, it’s an augmented step and from C ~ C #, it’s a half step. Again from C# ~ E, it is an
augmented step and so on.

A - C - C# - E - F - G# - A

aug - ½ - aug - ½ - aug - ½

|--E --|------|------|--C#--|--C --|------|------|--A --|--G#--|------|------|--F --|E

|--A --|--G#--|------|------|--F --|--E --|------|------|--C#--|--C --|------|------|A
|------|--C#--|--C --|------|------|--A --|--G#--|------|------|--F --|--E --|------|
|------|------|--F --|--E --|------|------|--C#--|--C --|------|------|--A --|--G#--|
|------|------|--A --|--G#--|------|------|--F --|--E --|------|------|--C#--|--C --|
|--E --|------|------|--C#--|--C --|------|------|--A --|--G#--|------|------|--F --|E

~$~ Muhammad Noman Hasan ~$~

These scales, like augmented, are made of different intervals than the diatonic scale. But as I am very fond of triplets, I came up with an
idea to play such scales with triplet sequence. It is a familiar idea for those who are very much familiar with Steve Morse’s or Zakk
Wylde’s playing. I use this technique a lot in my playing like I used it at the solo of Auleek’s track “Adhar Shomipey” According to that
method or technique same notes are repeated at the upper or lower string of the currently playing string like it is shown below.

|--C#--|--C --|------|------|--A --|------| (6th string)

|------|--F --|--E --|------|------|--C#--| (5th string)

Here, the note C# has been repeated while ascending from the root of the “A” augmented scale at the 6th string. Thus the five note
sequence of A - C - C# - E – F becomes a six note (two triplets) sequence A - C - C# - C# - E – F.

A - C - C# - E - F

A - C - C# C# - E - F

Now the same thing if descended from the note “A” from the 1st string, the same breaking down can be used by repeating the note F in
2nd string.

|--F --|--E --|------|------|--C#--|------| (2nd string)

|------|--A --|--G#--|------|------|--F --| (1st string)

Then the five note sequence of A – G# - F - E – C# becomes a six note (two triplets) sequence A – G# - F - F - E – C# by using this
repeating method or technique.

A - G# - F - E - C#

A - G# - F F - E - C#

~$~ Muhammad Noman Hasan ~$~

By using this repeating technique, the augmented scale can be played through out the entire fret board with six patterns starting from
each of the six degrees of the scale. Here it has been demonstrated with “A” augmented scale.

Starting from the 1st degree, A:

|--C#--|--C --|------|------|--A --|------|------|------|------|

|------|--F --|--E --|------|------|--C#--|------|------|------|
|------|------|--A --|--G#--|------|------|--F --|------|------|
|------|------|------|--C#--|--C --|------|------|--A --|------|
|------|------|------|--F --|--E --|------|------|--C#--|------|
|------|------|------|------|--A --|--G#--|------|------|--F --|

Starting from the 2nd degree, C:

|--E --|------|------|--C#--|--C --|------|------|------|------|

|------|--G#--|------|------|--F --|--E --|------|------|------|
|------|------|--C --|------|------|--A --|--G#--|------|------|
|------|------|------|--E --|------|------|--C#--|--C --|------|
|------|------|------|--G#--|------|------|--F --|--E --|------|
|------|------|------|------|--C --|------|------|--A --|--G#--|

Here, we can see that for these tow patterns, the finger positions are same for all strings accept there is a diagonal movement of the left
hands while ascending or descending. As the augmented scale is made of a repeated set of an augmented and a half step, the patterns
from 3rd & 5th degree will be the same as the pattern of 1st degree and the 4th & 6th degree will be the same as the 2nd degree. Thus by
using these two triplet sequences, the augmented scale can be played over the entire fret board blind folded.

~$~ Muhammad Noman Hasan ~$~

 Tool for Modulation
The augmented scale can be used as a tool for modulation just like the diminished scale because of its structure or the way they are built
up. The structural unit or set of augmented scale is an augmented & a half step (1 ½ + ½ step). After each two degree (or note, for easier
understanding) of the scale, the unit or set is repeated. For that reason, if any augmented scale is written starting from the 3rd or 5th
degree, they are actually the augmented scale for the key of that 3rd or the 5th degree. Like,

“A” Augmented Scale

A – C – C# – E – F – G#

Starting from the 1st degree A – C – C# – E – F – G# – A

Starting from the 3rd degree C# – E – F – G# – A – C – C#

C# – E – F – G# – A – C – C# C# Augmented Scale

Starting from the 5th degree F – G# – A – C – C# – E – F

F – G# – A – C – C# – E – F F Augmented Scale

This demonstration shows that starting from the “A” augmented scale, it can be shifted to “C#” augmented scale or “F” augmented scale
just like diminished scale. So, this augmented scale can be a useful tool for composition.

~$~ Muhammad Noman Hasan ~$~