Scales › hirajoshi (Japanese)

hirajoshi (Japanese) scale

Japanese, contemplative koto

hirajoshi (Japanese) on the guitar: the fretboard diagram

Here is the hirajoshi (Japanese) scale laid out across the whole neck, from fret 0 to fret 15. The guide tones (3rd and 7th) are highlighted — they're what makes the scale's color sing. Use the key selector above to shift the shape along the neck and find the positions in your key.

What color?

A Japanese pentatonic with half steps (R 9 b3 5 b13): a low, contemplative minor color, the iconic sound of the koto. The b6 against the 5 creates its characteristic tension.

Origin & history

A Japanese pentatonic scale associated with the traditional tunings of the koto (zither) and the shamisen. Its half steps give it the melancholy color typical of Japanese chamber music.

Which chords to play it on?

Outside the functional consensus: this is an exploration color. Lay it over a vamp or a held chord to tint your improvisation with an unexpected flavor, rather than inside a cadence.

Try it in a real chart

Paste a chord chart into the tool: Pentania tells you, chord by chord, when this scale fits — and what other colors are open to you. Open the tool →