About the A Miyako-bushi (Japanese) scale
A Miyako-bushi (Japanese) is used for traditional Japanese melodies. Think of it as a Japanese five-note scale built on a spare flat second and flat sixth, the sound of the koto's kumoi-joshi tuning. It is A Phrygian Pentatonic with the seventh lowered.
Its notes are A, B♭, D, E, and F. The formula is H 4 semitones W H 4 semitones. It is the fifth mode of B♭ Chinese.
Also called Sakura and In Scale.
The open-string notes E, A, and D all sit inside the mode. The open A string is the lowest A on the neck. A Miyako-bushi (Japanese) sits in true open position, with a complete octave of the scale inside the first three frets.
Positions
Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.
Pentatonic boxes
The five shapes blues and rock are built on, the first scale most guitarists ever solo with, one box per note up the neck.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AA | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbB♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | DD | Perfect 4th |
| 4 | EE | Perfect 5th |
| 5 | FF | Minor 6th |
| Steps | H 4 semitones W H 4 semitones |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 1-4-2-1-4 |
| Degrees | 1 ♭2 4 5 ♭6 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Miyako-bushi (Japanese) in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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