E Ichikosucho Guitar Scale

E Ichikosucho Scale — Notes and Intervals

The E Ichikosucho scale is an ancient Japanese court music scale used in Gagaku ceremonies. On Guitar, it contains the notes E, F#, G#, A, Bb, B, C#, D#. 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: E, F#, G#, A, Bb, B, C#, D#

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 E 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 E Ichikosucho on Guitar

Start the E Ichikosucho scale in open position, taking advantage of the open E string. Because this scale has 8 notes, four-notes-per-string stretches may be necessary. Start with a single position and expand gradually. Keep your thumb centered behind the neck for reach.

The E Ichikosucho scale contains both sharps and flats (4 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 — Exercises for Playing

Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the E 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 E to let the characteristic intervals of the Ichikosucho scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in classical contexts.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, practice the E Ichikosucho scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications. Aim for a imperial quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

• E Lydian
• E Hirajoshi
• E Ritusen

The E Ichikosucho scale contains 8 notes (E, F#, G#, A, Bb, B, C#, D#). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Ichikosucho

The E 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 E Ichikosucho Further

• Harmonize the E Ichikosucho scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• E Ichikosucho on Ukulele
• E Ichikosucho on Bass
• E Ichikosucho on Piano

Explore E Ichikosucho in Other Tunings

• E Ichikosucho in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• E Ichikosucho in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• E Ichikosucho in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• E Ichikosucho in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• E Ichikosucho in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• E Ichikosucho in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• E Ichikosucho in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• E Ichikosucho in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• E Ichikosucho in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• E Ichikosucho in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• E Ichikosucho in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• E Ichikosucho in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• E Ichikosucho in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• E Ichikosucho in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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