A Enigmatic Scale

Notes in the A Enigmatic Scale

Degree Name Note Frequency (A=440)
1 Tonic A 440.000 Hz
♭2 Lowered 2nd A# 466.164 Hz
3 Major Mediant C# 277.183 Hz
♯4 Augmented 4th D# 311.127 Hz
♯5 Augmented 5th F 349.228 Hz
♯6 Augmented 6th G 391.995 Hz
7 Leading Tone G# 415.305 Hz

Interval Pattern

Formula: H-A2-W-W-W-H-H
Step Interval Semitones From Note To Note
1 Half Step (H) 1 A A#
2 Aug 2nd (WH) 3 A# C#
3 Whole Step (W) 2 C# D#
4 Whole Step (W) 2 D# F
5 Whole Step (W) 2 F G
6 Half Step (H) 1 G G#
7 Half Step (H) 1 G# A

Chords Built on Scale Degrees

Degree Note Chord Quality
1 A A augmented augmented
♭2 A# A# (complex) other
3 C# C# major
♯4 D# D# (complex) other
♯5 F F (complex) other
♯6 G G (complex) other
7 G# G# (complex) other

Key Signature

3 — The A key signature uses F#, C#, G#.

A Enigmatic Scale in Practice

The A Enigmatic Scale uses the key signature of 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#). A major has three sharps (F#, C#, G#) and a bright, clear sound. It is extremely common in popular music and rock, particularly on guitar, and is easily sung by most voices. On guitar, A positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.

The enigmatic scale was composed by Giuseppe Verdi in 1889. It has a mysterious, chromatic character with no standard harmonic usage, prized for its unique tonal ambiguity.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Note Equal Temp. Pythagorean Just Intonation
A 440.000 Hz 440.000 Hz 436.043 Hz
A# 466.164 Hz 463.538 Hz 470.926 Hz
C# 277.183 Hz 278.437 Hz 279.067 Hz
D# 311.127 Hz 309.026 Hz 313.951 Hz
F 349.228 Hz 347.654 Hz 348.834 Hz
G 391.995 Hz 391.111 Hz 392.438 Hz
G# 415.305 Hz 417.657 Hz 418.601 Hz

Related Scales

Guitar: A Enigmatic Scale Positions

The A key offers 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like A are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.