D Ichikosucho Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Double Drop D tuning — fretboard diagram
D Ichikosucho in Double Drop D — Notes and Intervals
The D Ichikosucho scale is an ancient Japanese court music scale used in Gagaku ceremonies. On Guitar, it contains the notes D, E, F#, G, Ab, A, B, C#. 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: D, E, F#, G, Ab, A, B, C#
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
Tuning: Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D)
About Double Drop D Tuning
Double Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D) lowers both the 6th and 1st strings from E to D, creating a symmetrical frame of D notes around the standard middle four strings. This gives a distinctly resonant, jangly character that has been beloved in folk-rock and acoustic music since the late 1960s.
Neil Young used Double Drop D extensively — 'Cinnamon Girl' features its distinctive droning riff, and 'The Needle and the Damage Done' showcases its intimate fingerpicking potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Going to California'. Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain' also employs this tuning. Because only two strings change (both by just one whole step), Double Drop D is one of the easiest alternate tunings to learn — most standard chord shapes on the inner four strings remain unchanged.
Notable artists: Neil Young, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Best for: Folk-rock songwriting, D-centric acoustic arrangements, droning fingerpicking patterns, and any song that benefits from rich D-string resonance on both outer strings
Musical Character
An ancient Japanese court music scale with a Lydian-like structure (#4) that evokes imperial majesty and historical tradition.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D Ichikosucho in Standard Tuning
- D Ichikosucho in Drop D
- D Ichikosucho in DADGAD
- D Ichikosucho in Open G
- D Ichikosucho in Baritone (B Standard)
- D Ichikosucho in 7-string
- D Ichikosucho in 8-string
- D Ichikosucho in Drop C
- D Ichikosucho in Drop B
- D Ichikosucho in Open D
- D Ichikosucho in Half Step Down
- D Ichikosucho in Open E
- D Ichikosucho in Open A
- D Ichikosucho in Open C