Ab Enigmatic scale
Verdi's scale with lowered 2nd and 7th and raised 4th and 5th; the opening 1–b2 semitone and closing b7–7–1 frame wider intervals.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Ab Enigmatic scale
- Family
- Exotic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W+H – W – W – W – H – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-3-2-2-2-1-1
Notes & degrees
1Abroot
b2Aminor 2nd
3Cmajor 3rd
#4Daug 4th
#5Eaug 5th
b7Gbminor 7th
7Gmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Verdi's scale with lowered 2nd and 7th and raised 4th and 5th; the opening 1–b2 semitone and closing b7–7–1 frame wider intervals.
- Application in music
- It does not form a standard set of diatonic functions and is used as colour outside conventional major–minor harmony.
- Interval formula
- AbHAWHCWDWEWGbHG
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IAbnominal centretonic
IIICdefines modal qualitythird
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIGG
IAbAb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IAbAb
IIAA
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Ab Enigmatic scale looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.