STRINGSCALES

A ichikosucho Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, Eb, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12

A string: A, B, C#, D, Eb, E, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, Eb, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G#, A, B, C#, D, Eb, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11

B string: B, C#, D, Eb, E, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, Eb, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12

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A ichikosucho

The ichikosucho scale is a major scale with an added flat 5th, eight notes catalogued from Japanese sources. The extra note bridges the 4th and 5th chromatically, letting otherwise plain major lines pivot briefly through a blues-tinged shadow. It behaves like a major scale with a built-in passing tone rather than an exotic mode.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B

II

C♯

III

D

IV

E♭

bV

E

V

F♯

VI

G♯

VII

Same notes, different mode

A ichikosucho uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

B bebop minorE bebopG# bebop locrian

ichikosucho in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play A ichikosucho as a major scale with a built-in blue note: the added flat 5th (Eb) bridges IV and V chromatically.
  • Use the b5 (Eb) in passing on upbeats, exactly like the blues scale treats it, while everything else stays diatonic major.
  • Try it over a I-IV change in A: the b5 (Eb) doubles as the sharp 4th leading into the IV chord's major 3rd... wait for that resolution.
  • Contrast it with plain A major in the same solo; the single extra note is more striking when it is rationed.

How to play A ichikosucho on guitar

Open A string is a root and both E strings are its fifth, so five of the six open strings are usable and three of them pedal. Fretted roots begin at fret 2 on the G. Lowest root is fret 5 on the low E, with the next box taking over at fret 9. Same fingering as E bebop, which means a line learned there transfers straight over.

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