C Ichikosucho Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
What chords fit over C Ichikosucho?
Open C Ichikosucho HarmonizerC Ichikosucho Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C Ichikosucho scale is an ancient Japanese court music scale used in Gagaku ceremonies. On Ukulele, it contains the notes C, D, E, F, Gb, G, A, B. 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: C, D, E, F, Gb, G, A, B
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 C 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 C Ichikosucho on Ukulele
On ukulele, find C on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 8 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The C Ichikosucho scale contains 1 flat (Gb). 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
Begin by playing the C Ichikosucho scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C-E, D-F) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on C to let the characteristic intervals of the Ichikosucho scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in japanese contexts.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the C Ichikosucho scale sounds particularly charming when played as a melodic pattern over fingerpicked chord shapes. Try integrating scale tones into your strumming patterns for a more sophisticated sound. Aim for a imperial quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The C Ichikosucho scale contains 8 notes (C, D, E, F, Gb, G, A, B). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Ukulele 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 C Ichikosucho
The C 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 C Ichikosucho Further
- Harmonize the C Ichikosucho scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C Ichikosucho on Guitar
- C Ichikosucho on Bass
- C Ichikosucho on Piano