E♯ Enigmatic at a glance
Enigmatic is Verdi's invented oddity — used in his Ave Maria. Modern composers reach for it when they want a scale that refuses to commit to major or minor and floats outside any tonal centre. Built on the root E♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where E♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | E♯ F♯ G𝄪 A𝄪 B𝄪 D♯ D𝄪 |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3M · 5d · 6m · 7m · 7M |
| Step pattern | H W+H W W W H H |
| Chords in the key | E♯+F♯–A𝄪–D♯G𝄪A𝄪(♭5)B𝄪–D𝄪–F♯D♯–E♯–G𝄪D𝄪–F♯–A𝄪 |
Chords in the E♯ Enigmatic scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
E♯ Enigmatic on the piano
Improvisation drone · E♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano E♯ Enigmatic uses three black keys (F♯, B𝄪 and D♯) and four white. E♯, G𝄪, A𝄪 and D𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call F, A, B and E.
E♯ · F♯ · G𝄪 · A𝄪 · B𝄪 · D♯ · D𝄪
Play E♯ Enigmatic on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
E♯ Enigmatic on the guitar
E♯ Enigmatic - fr 0–12
E♯ Enigmatic on the staff
Notes of the E♯ Enigmatic scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | F♯ | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | G𝄪 | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | A𝄪 | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 5 | B𝄪 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 6 | D♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 | |
| 7 | D𝄪 | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes E♯ Enigmatic different
The enigmatic scale (1, ♭2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, ♯6, 7) was published in the 1880s as a harmonisation puzzle, and Verdi answered it with his Ave Maria. After the leap from ♭2 to 3 it climbs in whole steps through ♯4, ♯5 and ♯6, then closes on the tonic with two half steps. It has no perfect fourth or fifth, so it belongs to no major or minor family. The tonic is approached by a half step from each side, 7 below and ♭2 above, which is the only thing in the scale that points home.
How to use the E♯ Enigmatic scale
The diatonic chords of E♯ Enigmatic are: I+ = E♯+, II = F♯–A𝄪–D♯, III = G𝄪, IV♭5 = A𝄪(♭5), V = B𝄪–D𝄪–F♯, VI = D♯–E♯–G𝄪, VII = D𝄪–F♯–A𝄪. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in E♯ Enigmatic. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Enigmatic is Verdi's invented oddity — used in his Ave Maria. Modern composers reach for it when they want a scale that refuses to commit to major or minor and floats outside any tonal centre.
Practice tips
Enigmatic is more an etude than a working improv scale. Drill it slowly with a metronome — the unusual interval pattern is great ear-training even if you never solo with it.
Formula & step pattern
The E♯ Enigmatic scale follows Verdi's chromatic scale of invented intervals (1, ♭2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, ♯6, 7), neither tonal nor modal. Step pattern: H - W+H - W - W - W - H - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 3M · 5d · 6m · 7m · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear E♯ Enigmatic
Start with the music described above: listen for E♯ Enigmatic in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the E♯ Enigmatic scale?
The E♯ Enigmatic scale contains E♯, F♯, G𝄪, A𝄪, B𝄪, D♯ and D𝄪.
What is the formula for the E♯ Enigmatic scale?
E♯ Enigmatic follows Verdi's chromatic scale of invented intervals (1, ♭2, 3, ♯4, ♯5, ♯6, 7), neither tonal nor modal.
Is E♯ Enigmatic a major or minor scale?
E♯ Enigmatic is a enigmatic scale. Verdi's invented scale — neither major nor minor, with raised fourth and fifth and chromatic ascent.
What chords belong to the E♯ Enigmatic scale?
The diatonic chords of E♯ Enigmatic are E♯+, F♯–A𝄪–D♯, G𝄪, A𝄪(♭5), B𝄪–D𝄪–F♯, D♯–E♯–G𝄪, D𝄪–F♯–A𝄪.
Which genres use E♯ Enigmatic?
Enigmatic is Verdi's invented oddity — used in his Ave Maria. Modern composers reach for it when they want a scale that refuses to commit to major or minor and floats outside any tonal centre.
How do you play the E♯ Enigmatic scale on the piano?
On the piano E♯ Enigmatic uses three black keys (F♯, B𝄪 and D♯) and four white. E♯, G𝄪, A𝄪 and D𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call F, A, B and E.
How do I practise the E♯ Enigmatic scale?
Enigmatic is more an etude than a working improv scale. Drill it slowly with a metronome — the unusual interval pattern is great ear-training even if you never solo with it.