F 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
F 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

1Froot
b2Gbminor 2nd
3Amajor 3rd
#4Baug 4th
#5C#aug 5th
b7Ebminor 7th
7Emajor 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
F
H
Gb
WH
A
W
B
W
C#
W
Eb
H
E

Chords by degree

Tensions & resolutions

Stable degrees

IFnominal centretonic
IIIAdefines modal qualitythird

Typical resolutions & tensions

VIIEE
IFF
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IFF
IIGbGb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.

This scale on guitar 🎸

See how F Enigmatic scale looks on guitar.

Explore

Circle of fifths

The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.

CAmGEmDBmAF#mEC#mBG#mF#D#mDbBbmAbFmEbCmBbGmFDmFmajor
Relative key
Dominant
Subdominant
Key signature
1 flat (Bb)

Connections

Practice

Keyboard Trainer

Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.

Open Trainer

Frequently Asked Questions