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A♯ Iwato (Japanese) scale

About the A sharp Iwato (Japanese) scale

A sharp Iwato (Japanese) is used for traditional Japanese and film music. Think of it as a dark Japanese five-note scale with two flat fifths of space.

Its notes are A, B, D, E, and G. The formula is H 4 semitones H 4 semitones W. It is the third mode of E Chinese.

Learn more about the A♯ Iwato (Japanese) scale

A Iwato (Japanese) uses three black keys on the piano, A, D, and G.

Notes and intervals

1A#A♯Root
2BBMinor 2nd
3D#D♯Perfect 4th
4EEDiminished 5th
5G#G♯Minor 7th
StepsH 4 semitones H 4 semitones W
Semitones1-4-1-4-2
Degrees1 2 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

Iwato (Japanese) in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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Bb Iwato (Japanese) scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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