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A mystery #1 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A mystery #1

The mystery #1 scale is a six note synthetic set: root, flat 2nd, major 3rd, flat 5th, flat 6th, flat 7th. From the 3rd upward it walks in whole steps, so it behaves like a whole tone scale that has been given a dark flat 2nd doorstep. The name comes from scale catalogues rather than tradition; treat it as raw material for atmospheric, unresolved lines.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B♭

bII

C♯

III

E♭

bV

F

bVI

G

bVII

mystery #1 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • A whole tone scale with a dark doorstep: enter on b2 (Bb), then glide in whole steps from III to bVII (G).
  • Use it over a A7b9#5 vamp; the b2 (Bb) is the b9, the b6 (F) the #5 (F), and the whole tone upper half supplies the rest.
  • The name comes from scale catalogues, not tradition: treat it as raw material for atmosphere and sound design.
  • Alternate it with the plain whole tone scale to reveal the single half step; that contrast is its identity.

How to play A mystery #1 on guitar

Open A is the root and open G the minor seventh, so a root-seventh drone pair is ready before your hand touches the neck. E-shape barre roots line up at fret 5 on both E strings, with the D string answering at fret 7. G string offers another root at fret 2, which means low-register phrases never travel far. Box one ends at fret 9.

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