STRINGSCALES

E♭ ichikosucho Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Ab, Bbb, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

A string: Bbb, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bbb, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bbb, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

B string: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bbb, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

High E string: F, G, Ab, Bbb, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

Eb 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:

E♭

I

F

II

G

III

A♭

IV

B𝄫

bV

B♭

V

C

VI

D

VII

Same notes, different mode

Eb 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.

F bebop minorBb bebopD bebop locrian

ichikosucho in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play Eb ichikosucho as a major scale with a built-in blue note: the added flat 5th (A) bridges IV and V chromatically.
  • Use the b5 (A) 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 Eb: the b5 (A) doubles as the sharp 4th leading into the IV chord's major 3rd... wait for that resolution.
  • Contrast it with plain Eb major in the same solo; the single extra note is more striking when it is rationed.

How to play E♭ ichikosucho on guitar

Three open strings are in scale, the A as a diminished fifth, the D as a major seventh and the G as a major third, so none will hold a pedal. Roots sit low here, fret 1 on the D and fret 4 on the B. Capo at fret 1 maps this onto D ichikosucho. Lowest root is fret 11 on the low E, which puts box one high and the handover at fret 15. Same shape as Bb bebop, letting one fingering serve both.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.