Ab Enigmatic Scale
Notes in the Ab Enigmatic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭2 | Lowered 2nd | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♯4 | Augmented 4th | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♯5 | Augmented 5th | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♯6 | Augmented 6th | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | G | 391.995 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Ab | A |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | A | C |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | Gb |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Gb | G |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab augmented | augmented |
| ♭2 | A | A (complex) | other |
| 3 | C | C | major |
| ♯4 | D | D (complex) | other |
| ♯5 | E | E (complex) | other |
| ♯6 | Gb | Gb (complex) | other |
| 7 | G | G (complex) | other |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Enigmatic Scale in Practice
The Ab Enigmatic Scale uses the key signature of 4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db). Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing. On guitar, Ab positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Enigmatic Scale
Ab is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Ab concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Ab sound a major sixth lower.