B♭ Enigmatic Scale
Notes in the B♭ Enigmatic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B♭ | 466.164 Hz |
| ♭2 | Lowered 2nd | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♯4 | Augmented 4th | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♯5 | Augmented 5th | G♭ | 369.994 Hz |
| ♯6 | Augmented 6th | A♭ | 415.305 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | A | 440.000 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B♭ | B |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | B | D |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | 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 | B | B (complex) | other |
| 3 | D | D | major |
| ♯4 | E | E (complex) | other |
| ♯5 | G♭ | G♭ (complex) | other |
| ♯6 | A♭ | A♭ (complex) | other |
| 7 | A | A (complex) | other |
Key Signature
2 ♭ — The B♭ key signature uses B♭, E♭.
B♭ Enigmatic Scale in Practice
The B♭ Enigmatic Scale uses the key signature of 2 flats (B♭, E♭). Bb major has two flats (Bb, Eb) and is extremely common in jazz and wind ensemble music. It is the home key for Bb instruments such as the trumpet and tenor saxophone. On guitar, B♭ 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. When played starting on B♭, the 7 notes are B♭, B, D, E, G♭, A♭, A. In this key the signature has 2 flats (B♭, E♭). Bb is the concert-pitch key when Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax) play in their native C, making it the most common jazz and band key. Jazz standards in Bb are ubiquitous — tunes like "Autumn Leaves" and "All Blues" sit naturally for horn sections, and the key is a default for jam sessions.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B♭ | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| G♭ | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| A♭ | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: B♭ Enigmatic Scale
B♭ 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 B♭ concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in B♭ sound a major sixth lower.