STRINGSCALES

D♭ kumoijoshi Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Gb, Ab, Bbb, Db, Ebb at frets 2, 4, 5, 9, 10

A string: Bbb, Db, Ebb, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12

D string: Ebb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Db, Ebb at frets 0, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12

G string: Ab, Bbb, Db, Ebb, Gb at frets 1, 2, 6, 7, 11

B string: Db, Ebb, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 2, 3, 7, 9, 10

High E string: Gb, Ab, Bbb, Db, Ebb at frets 2, 4, 5, 9, 10

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Db kumoijoshi

The kumoijoshi scale is a Japanese koto tuning turned scale: root, flat 2nd, 4th, 5th, flat 6th. The two half steps (b2 against the root, b6 against the 5th) do all the work, giving it the sparse, haunting quality of traditional koto music. Guitarists use it for dramatic intros and as a fresh melodic angle over minor chords.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

D♭

I

E𝄫

bII

G♭

IV

A♭

V

B𝄫

bVI

Same notes, different mode

Db kumoijoshi 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.

D lydian pentatonicGb hirajoshiAb iwato

kumoijoshi in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • A koto tuning turned scale: sparse by design, so let notes ring into each other like open strings.
  • The two half steps (b2 (D) to root, b6 (A) to V) do all the expressive work; approach both slowly and resolve down.
  • Play it as arpeggiated open-position clusters near the nut with the root on an open string when the key allows.
  • Dramatic intro trick: rubato phrases over a suspended root drone on Db, ending each on the bare 5th (Ab).

How to play D♭ kumoijoshi on guitar

Capo fret 1 and every C fingering you own transfers here without a change, so the shape library comes along free. Open A spells Bbb, a minor sixth over the root, and open D spells Ebb, a minor second up. Neither works as a pedal, so fret the roots. Low E fret 9 is the lowest of those, with fret 4 on the A string next above it. Reach fret 13 and the first box is behind you, so the shift point is fixed.

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