STRINGSCALES

F enigmatic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, Gb, A, Cb, Db, Eb, E at frets 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

A string: A, Cb, Db, Eb, E, F, Gb, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12

D string: Eb, E, F, Gb, A, Cb, Db at frets 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11

G string: A, Cb, Db, Eb, E, F, Gb at frets 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

B string: Cb, Db, Eb, E, F, Gb, A, Cb at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12

High E string: E, F, Gb, A, Cb, Db, Eb, E at frets 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

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F 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:

F

I+

Faug
G♭

bII+

E♭m#5/Gb
A

III

Amaj
C♭

bV

C♭majb5
D♭

bVI

E♭

bVII

F7no5/E♭
E

VII

Esus2

enigmatic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

Lowest root sits at fret 1 on the low E, which puts box one entirely in first position. Four open strings are in scale, both E strings as the major seventh, A as the major third and B as the diminished fifth, so they colour rather than anchor. Next shape takes over at fret 5. Capo at the 1st fret gives E enigmatic shapes, and the A-shape barre waits at fret 8.

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