The enigmatic scale on bass:
notes, formula and position

The enigmatic scale has 7 notes: 1 ♭2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♯6 7. In A, that gives A, B♭, C♯, D♯, E♯, F𝄪 and G♯. Proposed in 1888 by Adolfo Crescentini and harmonized by Verdi in his Ave Maria: a very unstable scale, almost whole tone, with a leading tone.

Also called: Enigmatic, scala enigmatica.

Formula and notes

1 ♭2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♯6 7

The steps between the notes, from the root to the octave: half step – step and a half – whole step – whole step – whole step – half step – half step. In A:

One position on the neck

The enigmatic scale in A, in the 5th-fret position: one finger per fret, from the 4th to the 8th fret, on all four strings. The numbers are the degrees; the root is in gold.

The same position as bass tab (fret by fret, from the low E string to the G string):

G|-6--8-|
D|-5--6--7--8-|
A|-4--6--8-|
E|-4--5--6-|

For another key, move the whole shape: the root on the E string sets the key (3rd fret for G, 8th fret for C).

The sound of the enigmatic scale

Proposed by Adolfo Crescentini (1888), harmonized by Verdi in his Ave Maria. Very unstable. Hard to use but very distinctive.

You mostly hear it in classical music, film music and avant-garde music.

Which chords to play it over

In A, the enigmatic scale fits Amaj7♯5. On bass, keep the root on the strong beats and use the other notes to connect the chords.

Neighbouring scales

These scales differ from the enigmatic scale by a single note. Comparing them lets you hear exactly what that note brings.

• The altered scale: ♭3 instead of 7.
• The leading whole tone scale: 2 instead of ♭2.
• The Persian scale: 4 instead of ♯6.

Practice it with UnitBasse

This diagram shows a single position, in a single key. In UnitBasse, this scale is shown across the whole neck and in all twelve keys, as note names, intervals or degrees, with one color per degree. You can listen to it, see the chords that go with it, switch keys in one click, and play it over a chord chart with BackTrack, the app’s backing band. The app has 69 scales in 12 families.

Frequently asked questions