Learning the C Japanese Scale

The formula 1, 2, 4, 5, b6 gives the C Japanese scale its notes: C, D, F, G and Ab. Without a third, it avoids both the major and the minor label.

Play the root on the 8th fret of the low E string or the 3rd fret of the A string. The whole scale sits inside C natural minor, so a minor backing track makes a good first test.

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
Ab	b6	Minor 6th	8

Structure

C japanese scale notes:

C D F G Ab

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

3 notes per string — position 1

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