Guitar UpscaleYo Scale on guitar
The Yo scale is a five note scale of Japanese folk songs, with a 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th and no third.
| Notes in A | A B D E F# |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1 2 4 5 6 |
| Steps | W W+H W W W+H (W whole step, H half step) |
| Note count | 5 |
| Style in the app | Far Eastern, scale "Chinese Yo" |
Play A Yo Scale on the fretboard in Guitar Upscale
About the Yo Scale
The notes are root, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th. They are the major pentatonic started from its 5th.
With no half steps and no 3rd it sounds open and folk like. Japanese folk songs and children's songs often use it.
Play it over a sus chord, which also has no 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 |
| 6 | Major 6th | 9 | F# |
Same notes, another starting note
Start the A Yo Scale scale on another of its notes and you get these scales:
- From degree 2 (B): B Minor Pentatonic
- From degree 4 (D): D Major Pentatonic
- From degree 5 (E): E Egyptian (Suspended Pentatonic)
Yo Scale in every key
| Key | Notes | Play it |
|---|---|---|
| C | C D F G A | Open |
| C# | C# D# F# G# A# | Open |
| D | D E G A B | Open |
| Eb | Eb F Ab Bb C | Open |
| E | E F# A B C# | Open |
| F | F G Bb C D | Open |
| F# | F# G# B C# D# | Open |
| G | G A C D E | Open |
| G# | G# A# C# D# E# | Open |
| A | A B D E F# | Open |
| Bb | Bb C Eb F G | Open |
| B | B C# E F# G# | Open |