A Ichikosucho Banjo (5-String) Scale
Banjo (5-String) scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
A Ichikosucho Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Ichikosucho scale is an ancient Japanese court music scale used in Gagaku ceremonies. On Banjo (5-String), it contains the notes A, B, C#, D, Eb, E, F#, G#. It has a Lydian-like structure and is used to evoke a sense of imperial majesty and historical tradition. Commonly used in Japanese, Classical, Film Scores. Notable players include Takemitsu, Hosokawa. Use over Maj7#11 in Japanese-influenced compositions. Adds cultural authenticity to Eastern-themed scores.
Notes: A, B, C#, D, Eb, E, F#, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5d, 5P, 6M, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Formula: W-W-H-H-H-W-W-H
Number of notes: 8
Musical Character
An ancient Japanese court music scale with a Lydian-like structure (#4) that evokes imperial majesty and historical tradition.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Japanese, Classical, Film Scores
Notable players: Takemitsu, Hosokawa
How to Use the A Ichikosucho Scale
Use over Maj7#11 in Japanese-influenced compositions. Adds cultural authenticity to Eastern-themed scores.
Origin & Background
Used in Gagaku (Japanese imperial court music) for ceremonial and formal compositions.
How to Play A Ichikosucho on Banjo (5-String)
Begin by locating A on your instrument and play through the 8 notes of the Ichikosucho scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A Ichikosucho scale contains both sharps and flats (3 sharps, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the A Ichikosucho scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Ichikosucho scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in classical contexts.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the A Ichikosucho scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 8 notes before building speed. Aim for a imperial quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The A Ichikosucho scale contains 8 notes (A, B, C#, D, Eb, E, F#, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Banjo (5-String) with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Ichikosucho
The A Ichikosucho scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 8-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Ichikosucho Further
- Browse chord progressions
- A Ichikosucho on Guitar
- A Ichikosucho on Ukulele
- A Ichikosucho on Bass
- A Ichikosucho on Piano