Chord Colors

D♯ Enigmatic Ascending scale

About the D sharp Enigmatic Ascending scale

D sharp Enigmatic Ascending is used for experimental and dramatic concert writing. Think of it as the enigmatic scale of Verdi, a puzzle of a scale that barely sounds like a key. It is D Leading Whole Tone with the second lowered.

Its notes are D, E, F♯♯, G♯♯, A♯♯, B♯♯, and C♯♯. The formula is H 1½ W W W H H.

Also called Enigmatic Scale and Verdi's Enigmatic Scale.

Learn more about the D♯ Enigmatic Ascending scale

Two of the notes in D Enigmatic Ascending are black keys, D and B♯♯. Even so, the raised fourth is the white key G♯♯. Ascending through the scale, four white keys fall in a row.

Notes and intervals

1D#D♯Root
2EEMinor 2nd
3F##F♯♯Major 3rd
4G##G♯♯Augmented 4th
5A##A♯♯Augmented 5th
6B##B♯♯Augmented 6th
7C##C♯♯Major 7th
StepsH 1½ W W W H H
Semitones1-3-2-2-2-1-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules

Hand D sharpEF double sharpG double sharpA double sharpB double sharpC double sharpD sharp
Right hand41231234
Left hand43213214

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Enigmatic Ascending in other keys

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Eb Enigmatic Ascending scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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