Chord Colors

A Chinese scale

About the A Chinese scale

A Chinese is used for Chinese-flavored and cinematic melodies. Think of it as a bright five-note scale with a raised fourth and a major seventh.

Its notes are A, C, D, E, and G. The formula is 4 semitones W H 4 semitones H.

Also called Amritavarshini.

Three of the notes in A Chinese are black keys, C, D, and G.

Notes and intervals

1AARoot
2C#C♯Major 3rd
3D#D♯Augmented 4th
4EEPerfect 5th
5G#G♯Major 7th
Steps4 semitones W H 4 semitones H
Semitones4-2-1-4-1
Degrees1 3 4 5 7

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Chinese in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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A Chinese scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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