STRINGSCALES

B enigmatic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, A, A#, B, C, D# at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

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

D string: D#, F, G, A, A#, B, C at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10

G string: G, A, A#, B, C, D#, F, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12

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

High E string: F, G, A, A#, B, C, D# at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

B 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:

B

I+

Baug
C

bII

Fmaj/C
D♯

III

D♯maj
F

bV

Fmaj♭5
G

bVI

A

bVII

B7no5/A
A♯

VII

A♯sus2

enigmatic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Verdi wrote the scala enigmatica as a harmonization puzzle: treat B enigmatic as through-composed material, not a jam scale.
  • The bottom is a half step, the middle is whole tone (III to b5 (F) to b6 (G) to b7 (A)), the top stacks two leading tones; phrase those three zones separately.
  • Both the flat 7th (A) and major 7th (A#) resolve to B; 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 B enigmatic on guitar

Open B string is the root, giving a pedal you can hold while fretting below it. Open A and G are also in scale, as a minor seventh and minor sixth, so three strings ring in key. Lowest root is fret 7 on the low E, with the handover to the next box at fret 11. Nearest fretted root: A string, fret 2.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.