Guitar UpscaleJapanese Scale on guitar
This Japanese scale has a 2nd, 4th, 5th and flat 6th, a five note minor colour without a third.
| Notes in A | A B D E F |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1 2 4 5 b6 |
| Steps | W W+H W H 2W (W whole step, H half step) |
| Note count | 5 |
| Style in the app | Far Eastern, scale "Japanese" |
Play A Japanese Scale on the fretboard in Guitar Upscale
About the Japanese Scale
The notes are root, 2nd, 4th, 5th and flat 6th. With no 3rd, the half step from the 5th to the flat 6th carries the mood.
Guitar books use the name Japanese for several five note scales. This one sounds like a minor scale with the 3rd left out.
Play it over a power chord, which also leaves out the 3rd.
Intervals from the root
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | In A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | A |
| 2 | Major 2nd | 2 | B |
| 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 | D |
| 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 | E |
| b6 | Minor 6th | 8 | F |
Same notes, another starting note
Start the A Japanese Scale scale on another of its notes and you get these scales:
- From degree 4 (D): D Kumoi Scale
- From degree 5 (E): E In Sen Scale
Japanese Scale in every key
| Key | Notes | Play it |
|---|---|---|
| C | C D F G Ab | Open |
| C# | C# D# F# G# A | Open |
| D | D E G A Bb | Open |
| Eb | Eb F Ab Bb Cb | Open |
| E | E F# A B C | Open |
| F | F G Bb C Db | Open |
| F# | F# G# B C# D | Open |
| G | G A C D Eb | Open |
| G# | G# A# C# D# E | Open |
| A | A B D E F | Open |
| Bb | Bb C Eb F Gb | Open |
| B | B C# E F# G | Open |