F Enigmatic Scale
Notes in the F Enigmatic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭2 | Lowered 2nd | G♭ | 369.994 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♯4 | Augmented 4th | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♯5 | Augmented 5th | D♭ | 277.183 Hz |
| ♯6 | Augmented 6th | E♭ | 311.127 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | E | 329.628 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | G♭ |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | G♭ | A |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | D♭ |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D♭ | E♭ |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E♭ | E |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | F augmented | augmented |
| ♭2 | G♭ | G♭ (complex) | other |
| 3 | A | A | major |
| ♯4 | B | B (complex) | other |
| ♯5 | D♭ | D♭ (complex) | other |
| ♯6 | E♭ | E♭ (complex) | other |
| 7 | E | E (complex) | other |
Key Signature
1 ♭ — The F key signature uses B♭.
F Enigmatic Scale in Practice
The F Enigmatic Scale uses the key signature of 1 flat (B♭). F major has one flat (Bb) and a warm, pastoral quality. It is one of the most natural keys for wind instruments and is frequently used in orchestral and choral music. On guitar, F 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 F, the 7 notes are F, G♭, A, B, D♭, E♭, E. In this key the signature has 1 flat (B♭). F is the home key of the French horn (horn in F) and a natural key for many brass and woodwind instruments. Jazz musicians encounter F constantly because it is the concert-pitch key when Bb instruments read in G, making it essential for jam sessions and lead sheet reading.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G♭ | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| D♭ | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| E♭ | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: F Enigmatic Scale
F 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 F concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in F sound a major sixth lower.