C# Japanese Scale for Guitar

C#, D#, F#, G# and A are the five notes of the C# Japanese scale. A lies a half step above G#, and that small step is the heart of its sound.

Start with the root on the 9th fret of the low E string, or on the 4th fret of the A string for a lower pattern. For the neighbours of this scale, browse exotic scales on guitar.

Play the C# japanese scale

Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.

Notes of the C# japanese scale

Note	Degree	Interval	Semitones from root
C#	1	Root	0
D#	2	Major 2nd	2
F#	4	Perfect 4th	5
G#	5	Perfect 5th	7
A	b6	Minor 6th	8

Structure

C# japanese scale notes:

C# D# F# G# A

How the japanese scale is built:

The japanese scale is built from the degrees 1 2 4 5 b6, which gives the step pattern W-W+H-W-H-WW (W = whole step, H = half step).

Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 5, 7, 8. That makes it a 5-note scale.

C# Japanese Scale Guitar Patterns

Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.

On one string (B)

Box pattern — position 1

Box pattern — position 2

Box pattern — position 3

Box pattern — position 4

Box pattern — position 5

Other scales on C#

Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.

C# Indian: b2 instead of 2
C# Minor: adds the b3 and b7
C# Harmonic Minor: adds the b3 and 7
C# Harmonic Major: adds the 3 and 7
C# Mixolydian b6: adds the 3 and b7

The japanese scale in other keys

C Japanese C# Japanese D Japanese Eb Japanese E Japanese F Japanese F# Japanese G Japanese Ab Japanese A Japanese Bb Japanese B Japanese

All about the japanese scale →

Keep learning

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher