STRINGSCALES

A enigmatic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, G#, A, Bb, C#, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11

A string: A, Bb, C#, Eb, F, G, G#, A at frets 0, 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

D string: Eb, F, G, G#, A, Bb, C# at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

G string: G, G#, A, Bb, C#, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: C#, Eb, F, G, G#, A, Bb at frets 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

High E string: F, G, G#, A, Bb, C#, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11

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A enigmatic

The enigmatic scale is Verdi's scala enigmatica, reportedly composed as a harmonization challenge: root, flat 2nd, major 3rd, flat 5th, flat 6th, flat 7th, major 7th. It opens with a half step, walks a whole tone stretch, then crams two leading tones at the top. Verdi harmonized an Ave Maria with it; it remains a puzzle box that rewards through-composed writing over improvisation.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I+

Aaug
B♭

bII

E♭maj/Bb
C♯

III

C♯maj
E♭

bV

E♭majb5
F

bVI

G

bVII

A7no5/G
G♯

VII

G♯sus2

enigmatic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Verdi wrote the scala enigmatica as a harmonization puzzle: treat A enigmatic as through-composed material, not a jam scale.
  • The bottom is a half step, the middle is whole tone (III to b5 (Eb) to b6 (F) to b7 (G)), the top stacks two leading tones; phrase those three zones separately.
  • Both the flat 7th (G) and major 7th (G#) resolve to A; approach the root twice, once from each, to state the scale's oddity.
  • Harmonize a slow chorale in it, one chord per scale tone, and let the strange voice leading be the piece.

How to play A enigmatic on guitar

Open A string is the root, so the fifth string carries a pedal while you play above it. Open G is the other in-scale string, sitting a minor seventh up, which means only two of the six ring in key. Fretted roots begin at fret 2, G string. Lowest root is fret 5 on the low E, and the shift out of box one lands at fret 9.

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