D Japanese Scale on Guitar
Open D string, then E, G, A and Bb: that is the D Japanese scale. The step from A to Bb is the only half step, and it carries the Eastern flavour.
Fret 10 of the low E string gives another root. The scale is D natural minor without its F and C, so it can sound spare and open over a simple drone.
Play the D japanese scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the D japanese scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root | 0 |
| E | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| G | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| Bb | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
Structure
D japanese scale notes:
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.
D Japanese Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (D)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
Other scales on D
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- D Indian: b2 instead of 2
- D Minor: adds the b3 and b7
- D Harmonic Minor: adds the b3 and 7
- D Harmonic Major: adds the 3 and 7
- D Mixolydian b6: adds the 3 and b7
The japanese scale in other keys
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Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
