F# Japanese Scale Fretboard Guide

The F# Japanese scale runs F#, G#, B, C# and D. It is a five-note scale with no third, and the half step from C# to D is its signature.

Put the root on the 2nd fret of the low E string, then try the 9th fret of the A string. The shape is the same as in any other key, just slid along the neck.

Play the F# japanese scale

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

Notes of the F# japanese scale

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

Structure

F# japanese scale notes:

F# G# B C# D

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.

F# Japanese Scale Guitar Patterns

Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.

On one string (low E)

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 F#

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

F# Indian: b2 instead of 2
F# Minor: adds the b3 and b7
F# Harmonic Minor: adds the b3 and 7
F# Harmonic Major: adds the 3 and 7
F# 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 →

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Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

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