Japanese Scale

Lesson Goal: To quickly internalize the Japanese Scale… this deliciously distinctive scale from the Land of the Rising Sun… in all keys… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle…

Table of Contents

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Prerequisites

Basic music reading skills… the LOVE of music… and the discipline to study and practice.

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Theory in the Key of C

The absence of a major 3 (Mi) or minor 3 (Me) gives this particular Japanese Scale a tonally ambiguous and wonderfully dreamy quality.

1. The scale structure of the Japanese Scale is 1-b2-4-5-b6-1. Always. No matter what key you are in.
2. The Solfege syllables of the Japanese Scale are Do-Ra-Fa-So-Le-Do. Always. No matter what key you are in.
3. The only thing that changes when you change keys are the letter names.

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Comparative Scale Study

Notice that the Japanese Scale is a subset of the Middle Eastern Scale… and notice the dramatic effect of removing two notes: Mi and Ti, creating a dreamy quality that is instantly recognized as Japanese!

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Japanese Scale Solfege Ear Training

Reading, playing, and singing the Solfege syllables out loud is an extremely effective way to tune up your ears and to internalize the unique sound-feeling of each note in the scale with respect to the key center Do. Make sure to do this slowly enough for the unique sound-feeling of each Solfege syllable to make a meaningful impression on your mind’s ear.

Linear, Ascending…

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Linear, Descending…

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Do-X-Do, Ascending…

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Do-X-Do, Descending…

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Note: We could sing lots more musical patterns, but a more effective and efficient approach (the 80-20 Principle) is to get your ear training material directly from the music that YOU want to play!

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learn more… Scales