B Enigmatic Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
What chords fit over B Enigmatic?
Open B Enigmatic HarmonizerB Enigmatic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Enigmatic scale was invented as a musical puzzle and famously used by Giuseppe Verdi. On Ukulele, the notes are B, C, D#, F, G, A, A#. It has an unstable and surreal sound because it lacks the traditional fourth and fifth degrees, creating a gliding effect that challenges the listener's expectations. Commonly used in Classical, Experimental, Film Scores. Notable players include Giuseppe Verdi, Igor Stravinsky. Not chord-specific — this is a melodic scale for creating surreal, non-functional passages. Use over sustained pedal tones or atonal contexts.
Notes: B, C, D#, F, G, A, A#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 5d, 6m, 7m, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 b5 b6 7
Formula: H-WH-W-W-W-H-H
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
Invented as a musical puzzle — lacks the traditional 4th and 5th degrees, creating a gliding, rootless sensation. Verdi used it in his Ave Maria to challenge conventional harmony.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Classical, Experimental, Film Scores
Notable players: Giuseppe Verdi, Igor Stravinsky
How to Use the B Enigmatic Scale
Not chord-specific — this is a melodic scale for creating surreal, non-functional passages. Use over sustained pedal tones or atonal contexts.
Origin & Background
Created as a musical enigma and famously used by Giuseppe Verdi in his Quattro Pezzi Sacri (1898).
How to Play B Enigmatic on Ukulele
On ukulele, find B on the fret 2 area, and work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The B Enigmatic scale contains 2 sharps (D#, A#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the B Enigmatic scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (B-D#, C-F) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Exotic scales like the Enigmatic often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on B. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes. This scale is especially effective in classical contexts.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the B Enigmatic scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know. Aim for a surreal quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The B Enigmatic scale contains 7 notes (B, C, D#, F, G, A, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Enigmatic
The B Enigmatic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore B Enigmatic Further
- Harmonize the B Enigmatic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- B Enigmatic on Guitar
- B Enigmatic on Bass
- B Enigmatic on Piano