B Enigmatic Scale
Notes in the B Enigmatic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭2 | Lowered 2nd | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | D♯ | 311.127 Hz |
| ♯4 | Augmented 4th | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♯5 | Augmented 5th | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♯6 | Augmented 6th | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | A♯ | 466.164 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | C | D♯ |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D♯ | F |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | A♯ |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A♯ | B |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | B augmented | augmented |
| ♭2 | C | C (complex) | other |
| 3 | D♯ | D♯ | major |
| ♯4 | F | F (complex) | other |
| ♯5 | G | G (complex) | other |
| ♯6 | A | A (complex) | other |
| 7 | A♯ | A♯ (complex) | other |
Key Signature
5 ♯ — The B key signature uses F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯.
B Enigmatic Scale in Practice
The B Enigmatic Scale uses the key signature of 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). B major has five sharps and a bright, somewhat tense quality. Enharmonically equivalent to Cb major, it is used in orchestral writing and some jazz compositions. On guitar, B 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. When played starting on B, the 7 notes are B, C, D♯, F, G, A, A♯. In this key the signature has 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). B sits at the boundary of comfortable sharp keys with 5 sharps, often used in orchestral writing for brilliance and in jazz for challenging ii-V-I exercises. Guitarists can play in B using barre chords at the second and seventh frets, and the key is common in pop and R&B music when vocalists prefer its tessitura.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 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 |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| A♯ | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: B Enigmatic Scale Positions
The B key offers 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like B are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.