STRINGSCALES

E enigmatic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G#, Bb, C, D, D#, E at frets 0, 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

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

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

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

B string: C, D, D#, E, F, G#, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11

High E string: E, F, G#, Bb, C, D, D#, E at frets 0, 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

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E 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:

E

I+

Eaug
F

bII+

Dm♯5/F
G♯

III

G♯maj
B♭

bV

B♭majb5
C

bVI

D

bVII

E7no5/D
D♯

VII

D♯sus2

enigmatic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

Both E strings ring the root open in this key, so a drone under the whole line costs nothing. Open D adds the minor seventh on top, giving three in-scale open strings to lean on. Fretted roots start at fret 2, D string. Box one off that open root ends at fret 4, meaning the shift comes almost immediately and the 12th-fret octave belongs to a later shape.

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