F Enigmatic Scale

Notes in the F Enigmatic Scale

Degree Name Note Frequency (A=440)
1 Tonic F 349.228 Hz
♭2 Lowered 2nd Gb 369.994 Hz
3 Major Mediant A 440.000 Hz
♯4 Augmented 4th B 493.883 Hz
♯5 Augmented 5th Db 277.183 Hz
♯6 Augmented 6th Eb 311.127 Hz
7 Leading Tone E 329.628 Hz

Interval Pattern

Formula: H-A2-W-W-W-H-H
Step Interval Semitones From Note To Note
1 Half Step (H) 1 F Gb
2 Aug 2nd (WH) 3 Gb A
3 Whole Step (W) 2 A B
4 Whole Step (W) 2 B Db
5 Whole Step (W) 2 Db Eb
6 Half Step (H) 1 Eb E
7 Half Step (H) 1 E F

Chords Built on Scale Degrees

Degree Note Chord Quality
1 F F augmented augmented
♭2 Gb Gb (complex) other
3 A A major
♯4 B B (complex) other
♯5 Db Db (complex) other
♯6 Eb Eb (complex) other
7 E E (complex) other

Key Signature

1 — The F key signature uses Bb.

F Enigmatic Scale in Practice

The F Enigmatic Scale uses the key signature of 1 flat (Bb). 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.

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
Gb 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
Db 277.183 Hz 278.437 Hz 279.067 Hz
Eb 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.