Hirajoshi
Encyclopedia
Hirajoshi scale, or hira-choshi (Japanese
平調子: chōshi = tuning and hira = even, level, tranquil, standard or regular) is a tuning
scale adapted from shamisen
music by Yatsuhashi Kengyō
for tuning of the koto
.
This scale is similar to a minor triad with an added major 2nd and minor 6th degrees. It has a root, major 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 6th, and an octave.
Following the formula to produce a modal pentatonic scale, the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th scale degrees of a mode are borrowed. This is most commonly practied over the dorian, phrygian, and aeolian modes, resulting in a "minor" pentatonic scale. The pentatonic formula can also be used over the lydian mode to produce the hirajoshi scale, the mixolydian mode to produce a dominant pentatonic scale, and the locrian mode to produce the kumoi scale. Although following this formula over the lydian and locrian modes produces the two scales (hirajoshi, and kumoi) in there 5th modes, it is a logical reference point in creating pentatonic scales based on the major modes.
It is essentially a pentatonic
subset of the Lydian mode
(i.e. the fourth degree
of the major scale
).
It can also be derived in its inversions (the 5 modes of hirajoshi) from the root notes of the locrian, ionian, phrygian, and lydian modes.
This scale is most commonly practiced over the phrygian mode using its scale degrees: root, minor 2nd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, and minor 6th.
This is due to the harmonic tensions between the root and the minor 2nd.
In its 3rd mode starting from D, it consists of: D-Eb-G-A-Bb.
Other scales include the insen
, iwato and kumoi-choshi scales.
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
平調子: chōshi = tuning and hira = even, level, tranquil, standard or regular) is a tuning
Musical tuning
In music, there are two common meanings for tuning:* Tuning practice, the act of tuning an instrument or voice.* Tuning systems, the various systems of pitches used to tune an instrument, and their theoretical bases.-Tuning practice:...
scale adapted from shamisen
Shamisen
The , also called is a three-stringed, Japanese musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi. The Japanese pronunciation is usually "shamisen" but sometimes "jamisen" when used as a suffix . -Construction:The shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument...
music by Yatsuhashi Kengyō
Yatsuhashi Kengyo
Yatsuhashi Kengyō was a Japanese musician and composer from Kyoto. The name Kengyō is an honorary title given to highly skilled blind musicians....
for tuning of the koto
Koto (musical instrument)
The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese guzheng, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto are about length, and made from kiri wood...
.
This scale is similar to a minor triad with an added major 2nd and minor 6th degrees. It has a root, major 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 6th, and an octave.
Following the formula to produce a modal pentatonic scale, the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th scale degrees of a mode are borrowed. This is most commonly practied over the dorian, phrygian, and aeolian modes, resulting in a "minor" pentatonic scale. The pentatonic formula can also be used over the lydian mode to produce the hirajoshi scale, the mixolydian mode to produce a dominant pentatonic scale, and the locrian mode to produce the kumoi scale. Although following this formula over the lydian and locrian modes produces the two scales (hirajoshi, and kumoi) in there 5th modes, it is a logical reference point in creating pentatonic scales based on the major modes.
It is essentially a pentatonic
Pentatonic scale
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave in contrast to a heptatonic scale such as the major scale and minor scale...
subset of the Lydian mode
Lydian mode
The Lydian musical scale is a rising pattern of pitches comprising three whole tones, a semitone, two more whole tones, and a final semitone. This sequence of pitches roughly describes the fifth of the eight Gregorian modes, known as Mode V or the authentic mode on F, theoretically using B but in...
(i.e. the fourth degree
Degree (music)
In music theory, a scale degree or scale step is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the tonic...
of the major scale
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
).
It can also be derived in its inversions (the 5 modes of hirajoshi) from the root notes of the locrian, ionian, phrygian, and lydian modes.
This scale is most commonly practiced over the phrygian mode using its scale degrees: root, minor 2nd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, and minor 6th.
This is due to the harmonic tensions between the root and the minor 2nd.
In its 3rd mode starting from D, it consists of: D-Eb-G-A-Bb.
Other scales include the insen
Insen scale
Insen is a tuning scale adapted from shamisen music by Yatsuhashi Kengyō for tuning of the koto. It only differs from the hirajoshi scale by one note....
, iwato and kumoi-choshi scales.