Yo scale
Encyclopedia
The yo scale, which does not contain semitone
s, according to a traditional theory is a pentatonic scale
used in much Japanese music, excluding gagaku
and Buddhist
chanting. The yo scale is used specifically in folk songs
and early popular songs
and is contrasted with the in scale
which does contain semitones.
It is defined by ascending interval
s of two, three, two, two, and three semitone
s. An example yo scale, expressed in western pitch names, is: D - E - G - A - B. This is illustrated below.
More recent theory emphasizes that it is more useful in interpreting Japanese melody to view scales on the basis of "nuclear tones" located a fourth
apart and containing notes between them, as in the minyō scale used in folk music, and whose pitches are equivalent to the yo scale:
Semitone
A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically....
s, according to a traditional theory is a pentatonic scale
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...
used in much Japanese music, excluding gagaku
Gagaku
Gagaku is a type of Japanese classical music that has been performed at the Imperial Court in Kyoto for several centuries. It consists of three primary repertoires:#Native Shinto religious music and folk songs and dance, called kuniburi no utamai...
and Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
chanting. The yo scale is used specifically in folk songs
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and early popular songs
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
and is contrasted with the in scale
In scale
The in scale, which contains semitones, according to a traditional theory is one of two pentatonic scales used in much Japanese music, excluding gagaku and Buddhist chanting...
which does contain semitones.
It is defined by ascending interval
Interval (music)
In music theory, an interval is a combination of two notes, or the ratio between their frequencies. Two-note combinations are also called dyads...
s of two, three, two, two, and three semitone
Semitone
A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically....
s. An example yo scale, expressed in western pitch names, is: D - E - G - A - B. This is illustrated below.
Perfect fourth
In classical music from Western culture, a fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions , and the perfect fourth is a fourth spanning five semitones. For example, the ascending interval from C to the next F is a perfect fourth, as the note F lies five semitones above C, and there...
apart and containing notes between them, as in the minyō scale used in folk music, and whose pitches are equivalent to the yo scale: