STRINGSCALES

E ichikosucho Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

G string: G#, A, Bb, B, C#, D#, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

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

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

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E 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

E 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 minorB bebopD# bebop locrian

ichikosucho in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play E ichikosucho on guitar

Both open E strings are roots and the open B is the fifth, so a pedal costs nothing here. Open A adds the fourth, giving four in-scale open strings against fretted work. Shift out of box one comes at fret 4. Fretted roots sit at fret 2 on the D, fret 5 on the B, fret 7 on the A and fret 9 on the G.

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