D# Ritusen Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open C tuning — fretboard diagram
D# Ritusen in Open C — Notes and Intervals
The D# Ritusen scale is a traditional Japanese pentatonic scale known for its balanced and tranquil nature. On Guitar, the notes are D#, F, G#, A#, C. It has a suspended quality that sounds very peaceful and is a core part of ancient East Asian court music and contemplative melodies. Commonly used in Japanese, World, Ambient, Film Scores. Notable players include Kitaro, Ryuichi Sakamoto. Use over sus2, sus4, and open chords. Its omission of the 3rd creates an ambiguous major/minor quality.
Notes: D#, F, G#, A#, C
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 4P, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5
Formula: W-WH-W-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)
About Open C Tuning
Open C tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E) produces a C major chord when strummed open, with an enormous bass depth from the low C string (two whole steps below standard E). The tuning spans a vast tonal range that gives compositions an almost orchestral scope, making it a favorite for both delicate fingerstyle and crushing heavy music.
John Butler's 'Ocean' — one of the most famous modern fingerstyle compositions — is performed in Open C, showcasing the tuning's incredible dynamic range from thundering bass to shimmering harmonics. Devin Townsend uses Open C extensively across his catalog for its massive, wall-of-sound potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Friends' from Led Zeppelin III. Soundgarden also explored Open C. The three C strings and two G strings create powerful octave resonances that make even simple chord shapes sound huge.
Notable artists: John Butler, Devin Townsend, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Soundgarden, William Ackerman
Best for: Cinematic fingerstyle compositions, progressive metal walls of sound, post-rock textures, and any music that needs enormous tonal range from deep bass to bright treble
Musical Character
A perfectly balanced pentatonic with a suspended quality — sounds peaceful and folk-like. Its simplicity makes it accessible while its exotic intervals set it apart from Western pentatonics.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D# Ritusen in Standard Tuning
- D# Ritusen in Drop D
- D# Ritusen in DADGAD
- D# Ritusen in Open G
- D# Ritusen in Baritone (B Standard)
- D# Ritusen in 7-string
- D# Ritusen in 8-string
- D# Ritusen in Drop C
- D# Ritusen in Drop B
- D# Ritusen in Open D
- D# Ritusen in Half Step Down
- D# Ritusen in Open E
- D# Ritusen in Open A
- D# Ritusen in Double Drop D