F♯ Enigmatic Scale

Notes in the F♯ Enigmatic Scale

Degree Name Note Frequency (A=440)
1 Tonic F♯ 369.994 Hz
♭2 Lowered 2nd G 391.995 Hz
3 Major Mediant A♯ 466.164 Hz
♯4 Augmented 4th C 261.626 Hz
♯5 Augmented 5th D 293.665 Hz
♯6 Augmented 6th E 329.628 Hz
7 Leading Tone E♯ 349.228 Hz

Interval Pattern

Formula: H-A2-W-W-W-H-H
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♯ C
4 Whole Step (W) 2 C 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 C C (complex) other
♯5 D D (complex) other
♯6 E E (complex) other
7 E♯ E♯ (complex) other

Key Signature

6 — The F♯ key signature uses F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯.

F♯ Enigmatic Scale in Practice

The F♯ Enigmatic Scale uses the key signature of 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). F# major has six sharps and is enharmonically equivalent to Gb major. It is used when a sharp key is preferred over the flat alternative in notation. On guitar, F♯ 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 F♯, the 7 notes are F♯, G, A♯, C, D, E, E♯. In this key the signature has 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). F# major uses all five black keys plus E# and B#, making it one of the most enharmonically complex keys on keyboard instruments. In modern pop and electronic music, F# appears frequently because digital instruments have no ergonomic preference, and producers choose it for its distinctive brightness.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Note Equal Temp. Pythagorean Just Intonation
F♯ 369.994 Hz 371.251 Hz 367.911 Hz
G 391.995 Hz 391.111 Hz 392.438 Hz
A♯ 466.164 Hz 463.538 Hz 470.926 Hz
C 261.626 Hz 260.740 Hz 261.626 Hz
D 293.665 Hz 293.332 Hz 294.329 Hz
E 329.628 Hz 330.001 Hz 327.032 Hz
E♯ 349.228 Hz 347.654 Hz 348.834 Hz

Related Scales

Guitar: F♯ Enigmatic Scale Positions

The F♯ key offers 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like F♯ are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.