C Enigmatic Scale
Notes in the C Enigmatic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭2 | Lowered 2nd | C# | 277.183 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♯4 | Augmented 4th | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| ♯5 | Augmented 5th | G# | 415.305 Hz |
| ♯6 | Augmented 6th | A# | 466.164 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | B | 493.883 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | C# |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | C# | E |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | F# |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F# | G# |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G# | A# |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A# | B |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | C augmented | augmented |
| ♭2 | C# | C# (complex) | other |
| 3 | E | E | major |
| ♯4 | F# | F# (complex) | other |
| ♯5 | G# | G# (complex) | other |
| ♯6 | A# | A# (complex) | other |
| 7 | B | B (complex) | other |
Key Signature
No sharps or flats — C Enigmatic Scale uses the same key signature as C major.
C Enigmatic Scale in Practice
The C Enigmatic Scale uses the key signature of no sharps or flats. C major is the simplest key signature with no sharps or flats. It is the starting point for music theory and the most widely studied key in Western music. On guitar, C 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| C# | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G# | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A# | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: C Enigmatic Scale Positions
The C key offers open-string resonance (no sharps or flats) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like C are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.
Piano: C Enigmatic Scale
C major is the foundational key for piano study — all white keys, no black keys in the major scale. Every piano method book begins here. The Enigmatic Scale in C remains the most-studied scale pattern for establishing keyboard geography and finger positioning.