Hirajoshi Scales

The HIRAJOSHI SCALE is a pentatonic, or five-note scale. It is commonly found in traditional Japanese music, and is used to tune the koto- a beautiful Japanese stringed instrument. The name comes from the words hira (tranquil) and chōshi (tuning.)

The intervals between the scale tones are-

• whole step between the first and second notes

• half step between the second and third notes

• Major third between the third and fourth notes

• half step between the fourth and fifth notes

• Major third between the fifth and sixth notes (the sixth note is the same pitch as the first note only an octave higher.)

Here’s an example:

The C HIRAJOSHI SCALE

C-D-Eb-G-Ab-C

We’ll use enharmonic names to avoid double flats and sharps and to use the scale that is easiest to read for many players. (So we’ll include the F# scale instead of the Gb scale to avoid Bbb.)