Chord Colors

G♯ Hirajoshi (Japanese) scale

About the G sharp Hirajoshi (Japanese) scale

G sharp Hirajoshi (Japanese) is used for traditional Japanese and koto music. Think of it as a Japanese five-note scale, minor with a flat sixth.

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

Also called Aeolian Pentatonic and Yona Nuki Minor.

Learn more about the G♯ Hirajoshi (Japanese) scale

The mode draws three black keys from the piano, G, A, and D.

Notes and intervals

1G#G♯Root
2A#A♯Major 2nd
3BBMinor 3rd
4D#D♯Perfect 5th
5EEMinor 6th
StepsW H 4 semitones H 4 semitones
Semitones2-1-4-1-4
Degrees1 2 3 5 6

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

Hirajoshi (Japanese) in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

Paste the snippet into a lesson page, a blog or a forum post. The card links back here.

Ab Hirajoshi (Japanese) scale on piano shown as colored note dots
Chord Colors

There's so much more to explore

Explore on the go. Over 150 chord progressions, modal mixture, build your own progressions, and more!

Try web version iOS app
Chord Colors on iPhone showing chords, guitar voicings, progressions, and scales