Low E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, A, Bb, Cb, D, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12
A string: A, Bb, Cb, D, Fb, Gb, Ab, A at frets 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12
D string: D, Fb, Gb, Ab, A, Bb, Cb, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12
G string: Ab, A, Bb, Cb, D, Fb, Gb at frets 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11
B string: Cb, D, Fb, Gb, Ab, A, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12
High E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, A, Bb, Cb, D, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12
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:
I+
bII
III
bV
bVI
bVII
VII
How to play B♭ enigmatic on guitar
Fret 1 on the A string holds a root, which lets the A-shape barre sit right at the nut end of the neck. Five open strings are in scale, all but the G, and they land as diminished fifths, a major seventh, a major third and a minor second, so none of them anchors the key. Lowest root is fret 6, low E. Position work off it hands over at fret 10, meaning the G-string root at fret 3 belongs to a lower shape entirely.
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